China's rare-earth export curbs halt output of Suzuki Swifts in Japan

First case among Japanese automakers could point to future problems elsewhere

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Suzuki Motor has halted production of the Swift compact car in Japan. (Photo by Wataru Ito)

ITSUKI MIYAKE and MITSUTOSHI MASUNO

TOKYO/HAMAMATSU, Japan -- Japan's Suzuki Motor has halted production of its compact Swift car in Japan due to a parts shortage caused by China's restrictions on rare-earth exports, Nikkei learned Thursday.

This is the first time Chinese export controls have directly affected the operations of a Japanese automaker. The impact could spread to other companies, depending on how Beijing responds.

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