China rare earth bans put heat on Australia to respond

Ms King denied her remarks would erode the Albanese government's improved trade relationship with Beijing, saying the purpose was to ensure global markets are not over-reliant on a single supplier for technologies at the heart of green energy and defence. "It's not about an argument or anything like that," she said. "It's about making sure there is choice." Funding boost After building up a near monopoly on processing and supply of rare earth metals and magnets over the last three decades, China began restricting exports of technology since at least 2008. Last year, Beijing limited exports of gallium and germanium,…