European firms still face challenges in securing access to crucial rare earths from China, a business lobby warned Wednesday, despite a July deal to speed up exports.

China dominates the global industry for extracting and refining the strategic minerals, giving it vital leverage in a renewed trade war this year with Washington.

Since April, Beijing has required licences for certain exports, sending ripple effects across worldwide manufacturing sectors.

Following a tense summit in July hosted by Beijing, European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen said that leaders had agreed to an improved mechanism for Chinese exports of rare earth minerals to the bloc.

But in its annual position paper released Wednesday, the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China said that “many companies — partic

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