China sent ripples through the raw materials markets on Tuesday, banning gallium, germanium, and antimony exports to the United States. The measure is considered to be a response to the U.S. restricting advanced chip exports to the People’s Republic. In other news, Norway is postponing its deep-sea mining plans, while China is forging ahead with a project of its own—the details in our roundup.
China Restricts Critical Mineral Exports to the United States
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.
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Norway Suspends Deep-Sea Mining – For Now
Norway will not announce any licenses for deep-sea mining or exploration activities in 2024 or 2025, the country’s Social Left Party said in a statement. The announcement comes amid negotiations about next year’s fiscal budget. However, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoer emphasized that this would only be a postponement.
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Critical Raw Materials: China Pushes for Deep-Sea Mining
While Norway has temporarily shelved plans for undersea mining, China is advancing the controversial initiative. According to the Malaysian newspaper The Star, Beijing Pioneer Hi-Tech Development Corporation plans to begin testing deep-sea mining operations in the Pacific Ocean next August.
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Canada and Indonesia Bolster Economic Ties
The governments of Canada and Indonesia signed the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement in Jakarta on Monday. Under the partnership, the countries will deepen their economic ties by eliminating trade barriers and facilitating joint investments. In addition, Canada hopes to gain access to Southeast Asian supply chains, including those for critical minerals.
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