China has announced a ban on exports to the United States of gallium, germanium and other key high-tech materials with potential military applications.

China announced Tuesday it is banning exports to the United States of gallium, germanium, antimony and other key high-tech materials with potential military applications, as a general principle, lashing back at U.S. limits on semiconductor-related exports. 

The Chinese Commerce Ministry announced the move after the Washington expanded its list of Chinese companies subject to export controls on computer chip-making equipment, software and high-bandwidth memory chips. Such chips are needed for advanced applications.

The ratcheting up of trade restrictions comes as President-elect Donald Trump has been threatening to sharply raise tariffs on imports from China and other countries, potentially intensifyi

  • bassomitron@lemmy.worldEnglish
    10·
    1 month ago

    I will add that this isn’t really that huge of a deal:

    https://cybernews.com/editorial/gallium-germanium-semiconductor-alternatives/

    The US and any other developed country can produce it, they just choose not to since the demand isn’t that economical to go out of your way to mass produce:

    A single truck could carry all the gallium that the US reportedly consumes each year. Most of the 18 tons of silvery metal are imported from China, the world’s largest producer.

    (From the article I linked)

    Not enough for a business to specialize in the material. But, seeing as the US does produce a lot of zinc and aluminum and it can be refined as a byproduct of those materials, I won’t be surprised if a company steps up to fill the gap after awhile.

    Really, just read the article I linked. It gives a good rundown on all this plus the germanium. Ultimately, this isn’t that big of a deal for the US.