Chinese Government Bans Export Of Certain Critical Minerals

As Reuters reported, the Chinese government has banned exports of the critical minerals gallium, germanium, and antimony to the United States. The order also requires stricter review of end-usage for graphite items shipped to the United States.

The announcement became effective once the government announced it last Tuesday, Dec. 3. A Chinese Commerce Ministry directive cited national security concerns for the new policy.

The new regulation strengthens existing rules by the Chinese government concerning critical mineral exports to the United States. In recent months, for example, Chinese officials have instituted and expanded restrictions on exports to the United States of tungsten, graphite, and magnesium, all of which are needed to manufacture electronics. Gallium and germanium are used in semiconductors, while germanium is also used in infrared technology, fiber optic cables, and solar cells. Antimony is used in nuclear weapons, ammunition, batteries, and photovoltaic equipment, among other products.

According to the National Association of Manufacturers, “This latest announcement from China is yet another reason why the U.S. needs to shore up domestic supply chains of these critical minerals by updating our broken and outdated permitting processes.”