Chairman Moolenaar Urges President Trump to Leverage Aviation Sector in Allied Response to China's Rare Earth Export Restrictions

Strategic Insights -

Chairman of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the U.S. and the Chinese Communist Party, Rep. John Moolenaar, has called upon President Trump to take a strong and coordinated action with U.S. allies to counter Beijing's continued stranglehold on rare earths and magnets critical to defense and advanced manufacturing. In a letter dated September 18, 2025, Chairman Moolenaar urged President Trump to impose reciprocal measures on China, including restricting Chinese airline landing rights, reviewing export control policies, and restricting outbound investment in China's aviation sector.

Key Takeaways:

  • Chairman Moolenaar proposed four specific measures to be taken by the U.S. and its allies to counter China's rare earth export restrictions: restricting Chinese airline landing rights, reviewing export control policies governing the sale of commercial aircraft and parts to China, restricting outbound investment in China's aviation sector, and raising these proposals with G7 counterparts and other trusted partners.
  • The Chairman cited the importance of these measures in sending a clear message to Beijing that it cannot choke off critical supplies to the U.S. defense industries without consequences to its own strategic sectors.
  • Chairman Moolenaar praised President Trump's leadership in rallying G7 allies to impose tariffs on China for supporting Russia and his decisive actions to strengthen America's critical mineral supply chains.
  • The letter outlined the Chinese Communist Party's playbook of coercive actions, including licensing delays and denials, which have restricted critical material exports to the U.S. and its allies.

Statistics:

  • China has lost two successive WTO disputes (DS431 and DS509) for restricting critical material exports over a decade ago.
  • Licensing for security-sensitive industries remains slow, intrusive, and often denied, with 2009 WTO Case Challenging China's Export Restraints on Raw Material Inputs serving as a case in point.
  • The U.S. has implemented measures to increase American mineral production, including Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production (March 2025) and Unleashing America's Offshore Critical Minerals And Resources (April 2025).

Sources:

  • House Select Committee on the CCP
  • White House Press Releases (Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production, Unleashing America's Offshore Critical Minerals And Resources)
  • WTO Dispute Settlement Documents (DS431 and DS509)
  • Representative John Moolenaar's Press Releases
  • Original text here: https://selectcommitteeontheccp.house.gov/media/press-releases/chairman-moolenaar-urges-president-trump-to-leverage-aviation-sector-in-allied-response-to-china-s-rare-earth-export-restrictions