This story was updated at 4:26 EST.
China on Tuesday moved to immediately restrict the export of metals the U.S. needs to build military equipment, solar panels and semiconductors — aggravating trade tensions mere weeks before President-elect Donald Trump takes office.
China’s Commerce Ministry issued a directive that bars “dual-use” materials from being exported to the U.S. military, including gallium, germanium, antimony and superhard materials. The memo also calls for stricter end-user and end-use review for exports of graphite, a key ingredient in electric vehicle batteries. The ministry warned that any organization or individual that violates the directive would be “held accountable in accordance with the law.”
China’s move drags critical minerals tied to the energy transition and national security even closer to the core of a trade war between the U.S. and China just 48 days before Trump is sworn in, said Simon Moores, CEO of Benchmark Mineral Intelligence.
