At an October 28 press conference, the Taiwan Affairs Office responded to rumors about "export controls on rare earth materials, magnets, and related processing technologies," clarifying that the measures regulate exports rather than prohibit them. Rare earths and magnetic materials are core upstream raw materials for magnetic powders, and the policy stance affects supply chain expectations for the powder metallurgy industry. The first-hand government statement (from the official website of the Beijing Municipal Taiwan Affairs Office) is preferable to sensationalized versions from self-media. Source: Beijing Municipal Taiwan Affairs Office official website (Jingcai Taiwan) · http://www.bjstb.gov.cn/bjtb/ywdt/qwfb2/1373722/index.html