China said that it would begin banning the export of several rare minerals to the U.S., an escalation of the tech war between the world’s two biggest powers.
Sales of gallium, germanium, antimony and so-called superhard materials to the U.S. would be halted immediately because they have dual military and civilian uses, China’s Ministry of Commerce said. The export of graphite would also be subject to stricter review.
The ban, which came a day after the Biden administration tightened Chinese access to advanced American technology, signals Beijing’s willingness to engage in supply chain warfare by blocking the export of components used to make products like weaponry and semiconductors.
