The Chinese government has banned exports to the United States of critical minerals essential to semiconductors, military equipment, and other industries. Important elements include gallium, germanium, antimony, and “superhard materials” such as diamond, cubic boron nitride, and other related materials.
The announcement by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce on December 3rd appears to be in response to new US restrictions on exports of certain semiconductor equipment to China announced by the US Department of Commerce the previous day.
Gallium and germanium have unique properties that make them important components of semiconductors and essential to the production of a variety of other modern technologies. According to the U.S. International Trade Commission, antimony, a metalloid, is primarily used as a flame retardant and in lead-acid batteries, but it is also used in a variety of military applications, including night vision goggles, explosives, nuclear weapons manufacturing, and infrared sensors. are. China produces 98% of the world’s gallium.
In its announcement, China also said it would “more rigorously screen end users and end uses” for exports of other so-called “dual-use items” that have military as well as civilian uses, such as graphite. will be implemented.
At a press conference on December 3, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian said, “China has renewed its semiconductor export restrictions, sanctioned Chinese companies, and accused the US of maliciously suppressing China’s technological progress.” We have made a serious protest.” “Such actions seriously disrupt the international economic and trade order, destabilize global industrial and supply chains, and undermine the interests of all countries.”
A recent analysis by the US Geological Survey (USGS) estimates that US GDP could be reduced by $3.4 billion (£2.7 billion) if China implemented a complete ban on gallium and germanium exports. . “Losing access to critical minerals that account for a portion of the value of products such as semiconductors and LEDs could cost the entire economy up to billions of dollars,” said the USGS Mineral Intelligence Research Institute. Nedal Nassar, the director and author of the report, warned. Lead author.
US President-elect Donald Trump, who will take the helm of the White House on January 20, has announced plans to impose an additional 10% tariff on goods imported into the US from China.
