WASHINGTON, Sept 18 (Reuters) - The chair of a U.S.

House of Representatives committee on China on Thursday called

on the Trump administration to restrict or suspend Chinese

airline landing rights in the U.S. unless Beijing restores full

access to rare earths and magnets.

Representative John Moolenaar, a Republican, also said the

U.S. should review export control policies governing the sale of

commercial aircraft, parts and maintenance services to China.

"These steps would send a clear message to Beijing that it

cannot choke off critical supplies to our defense industries

without consequences to its own strategic sectors," Moolenaar

said.

Rare earths are a group of 17 elements used in products from

lasers and military equipment to magnets found in electric

vehicles, wind turbines and consumer electronics. China is

sensitive about rare earths and its control over supply, adding

several rare earth items and magnets to its export restriction

list in April in retaliation for U.S. tariff hikes.

U.S. airlines are flying only a percentage of flights to

China they are allowed to operate given persistent low demand

between the two nations.

Reports suggest China is considering

buying as many as 500 Boeing ( BA ) airplanes as part of

trade talks with the U.S.

On Wednesday, the U.S. Transportation Department

approved another six-month extension that allowed United

Airlines, American Airlines ( AAL ) and Delta Air Lines ( DAL ) to fly just 48

total flights weekly to China out of 119 approved. Chinese

carriers fly an equivalent number to the U.S.

A group representing the U.S. carriers declined to

comment. The Chinese Embassy in Washington did not immediately

comment.

Last year, major U.S. airlines and aviation unions

successfully urged former President Joe Biden's administration

to pause approvals of additional flights between China and the

U.S., citing ongoing "anti-competitive policies of the Chinese

government."

Flights between China and the U.S. were a point of

contention during the COVID-19 pandemic.