China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) announced yesterday that in response to U.S. trade restrictions against Chinese semiconductor-related exports, it has banned the export of antimony, gallium, germanium, and ultra-hard material to the U.S. effective immediately.
Lin Jian, the deputy director of the Information Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated the export ban is in opposition to U.S. “long-arm jurisdiction” against Chinese companies:
China has lodged stern protests with the U.S. for its update of the semiconductor export control measures, sanctions against Chinese companies, and malicious suppression of China’s technological progress…. I want to reiterate that China firmly opposes the U.S. overstretching the concept of national security, abuse of export control measures, and illegal unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction against Chinese companies.
MOFCOM announced the export of “dual-use” items poses a national security risk, and the ban is intended to prevent U.S. military users from receiving the exported materials from China, stating in a press release:
According to the relevant provisions of the Export Control Law of the People’s Republic of China and other laws and regulations, in order to maintain national security and interests and fulfill international obligations such as non-proliferation, it was decided to strengthen the export control of related dual-use items against the United States. The relevant matters are now announced as follows:
1. Prohibit the export of dual-use items to US military users or military uses.
2. In principle, the export of dual-use items related to gallium, germanium, antimony, and ultra-hard materials to the United States is not permitted; the export of graphite items to the United States is subject to stricter end-user and end-use reviews.
Organizations and individuals in any country or region that violate the above regulations and transfer or provide related dual-use items originating in the People’s Republic of China to organizations and individuals in the United States will be held accountable according to law.
This announcement will be formally implemented from the date of publication.
Ministry of Commerce
December 3, 2024
