MNI China Press Digest May 13: U.S., Cars, Minerals

Highlights from Chinese press reports on Tuesday:

• China and the U.S. will continue negotiating tariff and non-tariff barriers such as investment, market access and key mineral supplies, Global Times reported, citing Huang Zhengliang, a researcher associated with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. Yang Shuiqing, a scholar at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, noted ongoing U.S. investigations into semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, automobiles and key minerals risked increased tariffs on these sectors.
• Auto production and sales in China hit 10.1 and 10.0 million units in the first four months of the year, up 12.9% and 10.8% y/y, marking the first time both exceeded 10 million simultaneously, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. New energy vehicle (NEV) production and sales reached 4.4 million and 4.3 million, up 48% and 46%, with NEVs accounting for 42% of total sales. Vehicle exports rose 6% to 1.9 million units, including 642,000 NEVs, up 52.6% y/y.
• Beijing will strengthen its supply chain control of strategic mineral exports, China Securities Journal reported, following a Ministry of Commerce meeting with several departments. Central and provincial officials managing concentrations of strategic mineral resources must closely track flows, strengthen information sharing and enhance early warnings to strictly prevent illegal outflows, the meeting outlined.