China has granted temporary export licenses to rare-earth suppliers of the top three U.S. automakers, two sources familiar with the matter said, as supply chain disruptions begin to surface from Beijing's export curbs on those materials.

China views its rare earths as a national security issue, not a trade one, and that’s why Beijing is unlikely to loosen controls any time soon, experts say.

A group representing auto suppliers in the United States called on Wednesday for immediate action to address China's restricted exports of rare earths and other minerals, warning the issue could quickly disrupt auto parts production.