Special licenses will soon be required to export gallium and germanium from China

Starting next month, China, the world's leading producer of gallium and germanium, will require special licenses for their export. This move is in response to efforts by the United States to limit China's access to advanced microprocessors. 

The timing of the announcement is noteworthy, as US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is scheduled to visit Beijing soon.

China's Ministry of Commerce has stated that these restrictions are necessary to protect national security and interests. Gallium and germanium are crucial in various industries, including semiconductor, communications, and military equipment. They are also vital materials for products like solar panels.

The ongoing dispute between the world's two largest economies revolves around semiconductors, which are essential components in mobile phones and military technology. 

The US has taken measures to prevent China from obtaining technology that could be misused for military purposes, such as supercomputing and artificial intelligence chips. 

In October, the US announced that exporting chips to China, regardless of their origin, would require licenses if US tools or software were used.

- CyberBeat