Exports of so-called dual-use goods or items with civil and military applications are prohibited, effective immediately—specifically gallium, germanium, and antimony.
China has imposed restrictions on the export of certain critical minerals to the United States, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced Tuesday. Specifically, exports of dual-use items—materials with both civilian and military applications—are now banned on grounds of national security. This includes gallium, germanium, antimony, and superhard materials. The ministry also stated that stricter reviews of end-users and end-uses will be required for graphite dual-use items shipped to the U.S. The measures are effective immediately.
Besides being used for civil purposes in various industries, gallium and germanium have military applications, such as lasers and night vision technologies. Antimony, on the other hand, is mainly used as an alloy component to harden soft metals. In the form of antimony trioxide, it is also used as a flame retardant. Both uses have applications in military fields.
The move comes shortly after the United States tightened China’s access to state-of-the-art memory chips and chip-making technology on Monday, amid an ongoing trade dispute between the two countries.
Exports Were Restricted in the Past Already
However, despite the announcement of export restrictions starting today, data from the Chinese customs authority shows that the last shipment of gallium and germanium to the United States occurred in June 2023, before export controls on these two critical technology metals were implemented in China. Exports to other countries are ongoing. Since August 2023, companies wishing to ship gallium or germanium abroad must apply for licenses and provide extensive background data on the recipient. The People’s Republic then also cited national security as the reason for the measure.
In comparison, the last shipment of unwrought antimony and antimony oxides to the U.S. was just a few months ago, in September. Only minor amounts of lead alloys with antimony contents were exported in October. In August this year, the metal and related products joined gallium and germanium on the list of export-controlled goods (we reported).
Discover how exports of gallium and germanium have developed over the last year and a half in our background report.
Photo: iStock/GARAGE38