United States: China declared on Tuesday its decision to ban exports of semiconductor-related products to the United States.
The key products include gallium, germanium, antimony, and other key high-tech materials that can possibly be used in manufacturing military products, taking the step to lash back at US limits on semiconductor-related exports.
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The Chinese Commerce Ministry said the move follows Washington’s move to expand its list of some Chinese firms subject to export controls on computer chip-making equipment, software, and high-bandwidth memory chips. Such chips are required for this kind of advanced application, AP News reported.
The increase in protectionism measures at the time that President-elect Donald Trump has been signaling his intent to significantly raise tariffs on imports from China and other countries to fuel tensions on trade and technology.

About China’s latest decision
As Lin Jian, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson stated, “China has lodged stern protests with the U.S. for its update of the semiconductor export control measures, sanctions against Chinese companies, and malicious suppression of China’s technological progress,” AP News reported.
Furthermore, “I want to reiterate that China firmly opposes the U.S. overstretching the concept of national security, abuse of export control measures, and illegal unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction against Chinese companies,” Lin added.
Chinese authorities declared in July 2023 that exporters would be obliged to have licenses for exporting strategically significant materials, including gallium and germanium, to the United States.
Chinese Commerce Ministry in August was also reported as saying that it will curb exports of antimony, which is found in batteries, weapons, and other products, and limit exports of graphite.
Minerals important for national security
Minerals that are considered strategic to national security include such minerals.
Antimony is used in flame retardants, batteries, night-vision goggles, and nuclear weapon production, and China is a major producer of the element, as noted in the US International Trade Commission report in 2021.
These limitations declared by Beijing on Tuesday also concern the export of super-hard materials, including diamond and other materials that are non-compressible and very dense, such as synthetic material.
They are applied in so many industries, including cutting tools, disc breaks & shield coatings.
The licensing requirements that China announced in August also included smelting and separation technology and machinery, as well as other goods connected with such super-hard material.
China also provides the largest amount of gallium and germanium, which are used in small quantities but play a crucial role in the manufacturing of chips for mobile phones, cars, and other consumer products.