China has stopped almost all shipments of critical minerals that are needed for cars, robots, wind turbines, jet fighters and other technologies.

Beijing's sweeping export restrictions on rare earth elements and magnets are reverberating through the global economy, disrupting production lines from Munich to Detroit and sparking urgent diplomatic engagement.

China's export restrictions on rare earths that are widely used by the auto industry could disrupt, or even halt, German car production, Germany's VDA auto industry lobbying group said on Tuesday. The comments mark the first time the lobby group has said output was at risk of being halted as a result of China's decision to limit exports of rare earth magnets.