WASHINGTON – China agreed to allow US-bound exports of three critical metals including gallium as part of its trade truce, according to a White House statement, pointing to the removal of bans on such shipments.
Flows of gallium, germanium and antimony to the US had
been banned by Beijing in December 2024
, after having been placed under the country’s export-control regime intended to stop sales for military uses.
Gallium, germanium and antimony are critical metals because they are essential for high-tech industries such as semiconductors, defence, and renewable energy.
China had not yet mentioned the three metals in its own announcements on the trade pact, which was forged last week following a high-profile summit between US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.
“China will issue general licences valid for exports of rare earths, gallium, germanium, antimony and graphite for the benefit of US end users and their suppliers,” the White House said in the fact sheet on Nov 1.
The US statement also effectively confirms that China’s export controls on rare earths – which proved to be a powerful trade weapon for Beijing – remain in place.
The “general licences” mentioned by the White House are a provision under export controls that allow repeated shipments to pre-approved buyers. BLOOMBERG
