China Restricts Gallium and Germanium Exports — Retaliation

China's Ministry of Commerce announces export restrictions on gallium and germanium compounds effective August 1, 2023, requiring export licenses for materials critical to semiconductor manufacturing, solar panels, and radar systems. China controls 80% of global gallium production and 60% of germanium. The restrictions are widely seen as retaliation for US chip export controls and a warning about Western supply chain vulnerabilities in critical minerals.