China's critical-mineral export controls have become a focus on Trump's criticism of Beijing, which he says has violated the truce reached last month to roll back tariffs and trade restrictions.

China has approved temporary export licenses to rare-earth suppliers of the top US automakers, Reuters reported on Friday, citing unidentified people familiar with the matter.

Beijing insists it has met its commitments to “suspend or cancel” its nontariff retaliatory measures to Trump’s April 2 “Liberation Day” tariffs. China announced restrictions on seven rare earths and magnets on April 4, although it never officially said this was in retaliation.