The Trump administration plans to reject U.S. ethane exports to China that are heavily relied upon for plastics manufacturing in an apparent escalation of the temporary trade war truce between the world’s biggest superpowers.

The auto industries in both the US and Europe could come to a standstill within weeks thanks to China’s ongoing restrictions on exports of rare earth minerals and magnets. Several European car part manufacturers have already halted production lines according to the European Association of Automotive Suppliers (CLEPA).

China's decision in April to suspend exports of a wide range of rare earths and related magnets has upended the supply chains central to automakers, aerospace manufacturers, semiconductor companies an