Summarize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs China has banned the export of several strategically important minerals to the U.S., in response to the latest round of American restrictions Chinese chip-making industry.On Tuesday, the Chinese Commerce Ministry announced that it has banned the export of gallium, germanium, antimony and “superhard materials” to the U.S. The ban on the dual-use materials—those with civilian and military applications—comes alongside the implementation of “stricter end-user and end-use” reviews on graphite exports to the U.S.The announcement follows Washington’s decision to strengthen export restrictions on semiconductor manufacturing equipment and software tools, and to expand the list of Chinese companies subject to these controls.China’s rare earth metal restrictions also come only six weeks before the inauguration of Donald Trump, and concerns that his presidency will initiate a new period of trade warfare between the countries.
Crystals of gallium are seen in a laboratory and (inset) the Chinese flag. On Tuesday, the Chinese Commerce Ministry announced it had banned exports of gallium, germanium and antimony to the U.S.
Crystals of gallium are seen in a laboratory and (inset) the Chinese flag. On Tuesday, the Chinese Commerce Ministry announced it had banned exports of gallium, germanium and antimony to the U.S.
Hendrik Schmidt/ Ludovic Marin/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images/ AFP via Getty Images
What are the critical minerals China has banned?The three minerals included in the latest ban are the metals gallium and germanium, as well as the metalloid antimony.China had previously imposed export controls on gallium and germanium in July 2023 to “safeguard national security,” the AP reported following the Commerce Ministry’s announcement.In August, Beijing also said that it would require anyone hoping to export antimony and “antimony-related items” to apply for a license as of Sept. 15. This, the Ministry said at the time, was done “in order to safeguard national security and interests, and fulfill international obligations such as non-proliferation.”Newsweek has reached out to the Chinese Government via its Washington embassy outside of normal business hours for further comment on the new measures.Why are these minerals so important?While not classified as rare earth metals, gallium and germanium’s unique physical and chemical properties make them essential for the manufacturing of a wide-range of modern technologies.The two metals are important components in semiconductors, making them a critically important resource for a wide range of modern technologies.Germanium is used as a dopant in fiber optic cables to enhance signal transmission, and its high refractive index and transparency to infrared radiation makes it ideal for use in thermal imaging devices, night-vision systems and surveillance equipment.Gallium-based compounds are also crucial for producing light-emitting diodes (LEDs), and both metals are used to manufacture high-efficiency solar cells for solar panels.According to a 2021 U.S. International Trade Commission report, antimony’s primary uses are in flame retardants and lead-acid batteries. “Additionally, antimony is used in a variety of military applications, including night vision goggles, explosive formulations, flares, nuclear weapons production, and infrared sensors,” the report reads.Like gallium and germanium, antimony is also used to manufacture semiconductor devices, such as infrared sensors and diodes.China dominates the contemporary production of antimony, accounting for 56 percent of the global supply according to a 2023 European Union study on critical raw materials. The report also found that China produces 94 percent of the world’s gallium, and 83 percent of germanium.Which industries will be affected?China’s dominance of the global supply chain for these minerals, and the relative underdevelopment of other nations’ extraction and refinement capabilities means several industries could be impacted by the new measures.While the mention of the minerals’ “military purposes” in China’s announcement indicates that the defense industry is a key target of the ban, the wide-ranging applications of gallium, germanium and antimony also threaten to impact several others sectors.Their importance in the manufacturing of semiconductors, essential to nearly all modern devices, means industries such as consumer electronics and renewable energy could be affected.Germanium’s use in fiber optic networks means the telecommunications industry may also suffer from any resulting shortages in the U.S.However, U.K newspaper The Guardian reports, citing Chinese customs data, that shipments of germanium, gallium and antimony have already decreased significantly in 2024, following the imposition of Beijing’s earlier export controls.Why has China Banned the export of these minerals?The ban can be seen as a rejoinder to the U.S. cracking down on China’s chip-making industry, as well as an escalation in trade war saber-rattling between the two countries.The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security said Monday, that these would “further impair” Beijing’s ability to produce advanced-node semiconductors, which can be used in “the next generation of advanced weapons systems,” as well as artificial intelligence with “significant military applications.”
U.S Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo on Nov. 20, 2024. Raimondo supports new restrictions on Beijing’s advanced-node semiconductor manufacturing industry.
U.S Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo on Nov. 20, 2024. Raimondo supports new restrictions on Beijing’s advanced-node semiconductor manufacturing industry.
Jeff Chiu/AP Photo
“This action is the culmination of the Biden-Harris Administration’s targeted approach, in concert with our allies and partners, to impair the [People’s Republic of China’s] ability to indigenize the production of advanced technologies that pose a risk to our national security,” U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said.The trade restrictions also come amid growing threats from President-elect Trump that he will impose significant tariffs on all Chinese goods entering the U.S. upon taking office.On Saturday, Trump took these threats further by promising to slap a 100 percent tariff on members of the BRICS economic alliance if it attempts to create a new, alterative currency to rival the dollar.Newsweek has reached out to the White House and the Trump transition team via email outside of normal business hours for a reaction to the latest restrictions.Do you have a story we should be covering? Do you have any questions about this article? Contact [email protected].
