China Responds With Export Restrictions on Critical Chip Metals

(Bloomberg) — China imposed restrictions on exports of two metals that are crucial to parts of the semiconductor, telecommunications and electric-vehicle industries in an escalation of the country’s tit-for-tat trade war on technology with the U.S. and Europe.

Gallium and germanium along with their chemical compounds will be subject to export controls meant to protect Chinese national security starting Aug. 1, China’s Ministry of Commerce said Monday in a statement. Exporters for the two metals will need to apply for licenses from the ministry if they want to start or continue to ship them out of the country and will be required to report details of the overseas buyers and their applications, the ministry said.