No. of Indian companies awaiting China’s approval for rare-earth magnet imports doubles in 2 weeks
New Delhi: The number of Indian companies awaiting import licences from China’s Ministry of Commerce for rare-earth magnets has nearly doubled in just two weeks, rising from 11 to 21, according to a report by The Economic Times.
Among the new entrants to the list are major industry players such as Bosch India, Marelli Powertrain India, Mahle Electric Drives India, TVS Motor, and Uno Minda. These companies have reportedly completed the required end-user certification and submitted all relevant documents to their Chinese suppliers, but are still waiting for licence approvals from Chinese authorities.
China introduced new export controls on April 4, making it mandatory for companies exporting medium and heavy rare-earth magnets to obtain a licence from the commerce department. Buyers must also provide an end-user certificate affirming that the materials will not be used in the production, storage, or delivery of weapons of mass destruction or related systems.
Industry executives have raised concerns over the growing backlog. India currently imports rare-earth magnets worth approximately $200 million annually, primarily for automotive and industrial uses. Data from the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) indicates that around 52 Indian companies source these magnets from China for use in domestic automobile production.
Electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers are particularly vulnerable. Rare-earth magnets are essential components in EV traction motors and electric power steering systems. According to estimates by ICRA, inventories of these crucial components could be exhausted by mid-July if import delays persist. The agency has urged the industry to initiate urgent contingency planning to mitigate potential supply disruptions.
In electric two-wheelers, motors are priced between ₹8,000 and ₹15,000, with rare-earth magnets accounting for nearly 30% of the total motor cost. The mounting uncertainty over imports has therefore raised alarms across the sector, particularly as the EV industry continues to expand in line with India’s clean mobility goals.
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Trump administration says its war in Iran has been 'terminated' before 60-day deadline
Washington (AP): The Trump administration is arguing that the war in Iran has already ended because of the ceasefire that began in early April, an interpretation that would allow the White House to avoid the need to seek congressional approval.
The statement furthers an argument laid out by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during testimony in the Senate earlier Thursday, when he said the ceasefire effectively paused the war. Under that rationale, the administration has not yet met the requirement mandated by a 1973 law to seek formal approval from Congress for military action that extends beyond 60 days.
A senior administration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the administration's position, said for purposes of that law, “the hostilities that began on Saturday, Feb 28 have terminated.” The official said the US military and Iran have not exchanged fire since the two-week ceasefire that began April 7.
While the ceasefire has since been extended, Iran maintains its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz, and the US Navy is maintaining a blockade to prevent Iran's oil tankers from getting out to sea.
Under the War Powers Resolution, the law that sought to constrain a president's military powers, President Donald Trump had until Friday to seek congressional authorisation or cease fighting. The law also allows an administration to extend that deadline by 30 days.
Democrats have pushed the administration for formal approval of the Iran war, and the 60-day mark would likely have been a turning point for a swath of Republican lawmakers who backed temporary action against Tehran but insisted on congressional input for something longer.
“That deadline is not a suggestion; it is a requirement,” said Sen Susan Collins, R-Maine, who voted Thursday in favour of a measure that would end military action in Iran since Congress hadn't given its approval. She added that “further military action against Iran must have a clear mission, achievable goals, and a defined strategy for bringing the conflict to a close."
Richard Goldberg, who served as director for countering Iranian weapons of mass destruction for the National Security Council during Trump's first term, said he has recommended to administration officials to simply transition to a new operation, which he suggested could be called “Epic Passage,” a sequel to Operation Epic Fury.
That new mission, he said, “would inherently be a mission of self-defence focused on reopening the strait while reserving the right to offensive action in support of restoring freedom of navigation.”
“That to me solves it all,” added Goldberg, who is now a senior adviser at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a hawkish Washington think tank.
During testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday, Hegseth said it was the administration's “understanding” that the 60-day clock was on pause while the two countries were in a ceasefire.
Katherine Yon Ebright, counsel at the Brennan Center's Liberty and National Security Program and an expert on war powers, said that interpretation would be a “sizeable extension of previous legal gamesmanship” related to the 1973 law.
“To be very, very clear and unambiguous, nothing in the text or design of the War Powers Resolution suggests that the 60-day clock can be paused or terminated,” she said.
Other presidents have argued that the military action they've taken was not intense enough or was too intermittent to qualify under the War Powers Resolution. But Trump's war in Iran would certainly not be such a case, Ebright said, adding that lawmakers need to push back against the administration on that kind of argument.
