The Commerce Ministry in Beijing on Thursday announced it would impose export control measures on technologies related to rare earths, with immediate effect.

The ministry also said it had decided that foreign organisations and individuals must obtain dual-use items export licences before exporting certain rare earths items to countries and regions outside China.

The new controls -- which kick in immediately -- also mean exporters must obtain permission for technologies used for rare-earth mining and smelting, among other processing steps, a commerce ministry statement said.

They will also apply to technologies used in the "assembly, adjusting, maintenance, repair and upgrading of production lines", officials said.

China is the world's leading producer of the vital minerals used to make magnets crucial to the auto, electronics and defence industries, and since April it has required licences for certain exports of the materials, hitting global manufacturing sectors.

Rare earths have been a major sticking point in recent trade negotiations between China and the United States. (Xinhua/AFP)