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China announced on Sunday the suspension of an export ban to the United States that targeted key critical metals, including gallium, germanium, and antimony, which are essential for advanced technology manufacturing, such as semiconductors and defense systems.
The Chinese Commerce Ministry revealed that the suspension of these restrictions, initially set in place in December 2024, will last until Nov. 27, 2026.
The metal ban covered materials vital for the defense and aerospace sectors, as well as high-performance electronics and solar cells, so lifting the restrictions will temporarily ease supply issues.
The original restrictions, which applied to "dual-use" goods—materials with both military and civilian applications—banned the export of these crucial materials to U.S. defense manufacturers and were part of China’s retaliatory measures following the U.S. imposition of new semiconductor and technology-related restrictions targeting Chinese firms.
The ministry also stated that it would ease restrictions on the export of graphite-related products, which had previously been banned under the same dual-use goods controls.
In December 2024, the U.S. placed additional restrictions on China's semiconductor industry, including the suspension of exports of certain high-tech components and materials used in artificial intelligence systems.
This triggered China’s move to restrict the flow of essential rare-earth elements and other critical resources.
The suspension of the export ban comes after a significant meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump in South Korea on Oct. 30.
Both leaders agreed to defer some of the punitive measures that had fueled a trade war between the two nations, with tariffs reaching prohibitively high levels.
In late September, the U.S. postponed the implementation of a rule, known as the "entity list," which applies export controls to foreign companies that hold a majority stake in partnerships exceeding 50%.
In return, China agreed to delay the enforcement of measures aimed at controlling the export of rare earth elements for one year.
On Friday, the Chinese government announced that it would extend the suspension of these export control measures on rare earth elements for another year, effective from Nov. 10, Monday.
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