"Japan is deeply concerned about the extensive export restrictions on rare earths announced by China last week, and the G7 should unite in dealing with the issue," Katsunobu Kato told reporters in Washington.

Global economic leaders are gathered in the US capital this week for the International Monetary Fund and World Bank's fall meetings, and Beijing's latest restrictions are a key point of discussion among G7 finance leaders and others.

"I think that is the wrong decision, and I think that is dangerous for the global economy," UK finance minister Rachel Reeves said of the rare earth curbs.

Speaking on the sidelines of the fall meetings, Reeves added: "I very much welcome efforts led by Canada and also the US through the G7 to look at how we can improve our security when it comes to critical minerals."

She said she was keen to work with her counterparts.

Besides Britain and Japan, the G7 grouping consists of Canada, France, Germany, Italy and the United States.

On Wednesday, the European Union's economy chief told AFP in an interview that no concrete decisions have been made at the EU level, but that the bloc is "ready to engage and to coordinate" on a response to Beijing's actions.

Beijing announced on October 9 new controls on the export of rare-earth technologies and items.

China is the world's leading producer of the minerals used to make magnets crucial to the auto, electronic and defence industries.

They have been a major sticking point in trade negotiations between China and the United States.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Wednesday slammed the new curbs as "China versus the world", vowing that Washington and its allies would "neither be commanded nor controlled".

Bessent also told a forum hosted by CNBC that he planned to speak with European allies, Australia, Canada, India and other Asian democracies -- signaling a push for broader support beyond the G7 economies.