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Meanwhile, Nigeria's Foreign Minister Yussuf Tuggar said the expanded travel bans could impede possible energy and rare earth mineral deals which West African countries can offer the US.

The US has said China has been slow to release exports of rare earth metals and magnets which are essential for manufacturing everything from smartphones to electric vehicles.

The US accused China of failing to restart shipments of critical minerals and rare earth magnets vital to car and computer industries.

The US has accused China of failing to restart shipments of critical minerals and rare earth magnets vital to car and computer industries.

China has a near monopoly on extracting and refining rare earth minerals, which are critical to manufacturing many high-tech and green products.