China's exports of rare earth magnets to the United States in June soared by more than six times from May, a sharp recovery in the flow of critical minerals key to electric vehicles and wind turbines after a Sino-US trade deal.

Despite a detente on China’s restrictions on the critical manufacturing inputs, shipments remain far below last year’s levels.

China's Ministry of State Security says it is cracking down on alleged smuggling of rare earths materials that it says threaten national security.