LurkerJ said:US says it opposes export controls by China on metals, will consult alliesEarlier this week, China put export controls on gallium and germanium products, used in electric vehicles (EVs) and fiber optic cables. The abrupt announcement of controls from Aug. 1 has sent companies scrambling to secure supplies and bumped up prices. China's move, which its commerce ministry said was to protect national security, was seen by economic analysts as a response to escalating efforts by Washington to curb China's technological advances. The announcement came on the eve of the U.S. Independence Day holiday and just before U.S. Secretary of Treasury Janet Yellen visits Beijing. The European Commission has also expressed concern, while Germany's Economy Minister Robert Habeck said any broadening of controls to materials like lithium would be "problematic." https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/us-says-it-opposes-export-controls-by-china-metals-will-consult-allies-2023-07-05/ Good on China for looking out for its national security.... time to look after ours. |
Gallium is particularly troublesome :
Germanium not so much but still:
W Withheld to avoid disclosing company proprietary data.
However in both case production by other country is possible and are virtually non-existent today due to economic/environmental concern. If China were to play that card in any meaningful way they'll only be able to produce temporary disruption/inconveniences but as other countries would adjust China might lose the entire market. So, more likely, this is just for the show.
if you are curious here are similar assessments from the USGS for many other minerals.
