China bars some mineral exports to US

Energy & Environment

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China bars some mineral exports to US

China has banned exports of some rare minerals to the United States after new U.S. imposed restrictions earlier this week on exports of certain semiconductor chips and equipment.

The Chinese Commerce Ministry’s new directive applies to minerals including gallium, germanium, antimony and other materials with potential military applications, The Associated Press reported.

However, there are also energy implications: The minerals also have potential for use in batteries.

Beijing's move was widely viewed as a response to the Commerce Department’s new export controls issued on more than 100 Chinese chipmaking tool manufacturers. The restrictions also block the sales of certain chips and some software tools.

China is a major player in the global mineral supply chain. About 60 percent of the world’s rare earth mineral production and 85 percent of their processing come from the nation.

Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said earlier this year that the U.S. is “very concerned” about China’s clasp on the supply chain.

Read more from our colleague Miranda Nazzaro at TheHill.com.

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