Beijing, Dec. 3, (dpa/GNA) – China has banned the export of a range of raw materials and goods with civilian and military purposes to the United States, according to an official statement on Tuesday.
Gallium, germanium and the semi-metal antimony came under the measure with immediate effect, according to the Ministry of Commerce in Beijing.
The raw materials are important for the defence industry and chip manufacturers, it said.
As a main country of origin of the metals, China had already restricted their export, the ministry said. The export controls for graphite were also to be tightened further.
The Chinese ban comes hours after the US issued restrictions on the export of some semiconductor chips and equipment to China, citing national security.
The new US measures prohibit the export of other key technologies such as high-performance memories and semiconductor tools manufactured by US companies or using American technologies.
In addition, 140 other Chinese companies have been blacklisted, making access to US technologies in this area virtually impossible.
There had previously been several rounds of chip sanctions against China.
Experts note that China is pushing ahead with the development of its own technologies as a result of the US restrictions in order to reduce its dependence on foreign suppliers.
The technology conflict between the US and China gathered pace under the first Trump administration. At that time, Washington began to target Chinese technology companies such as Huawei, citing national security concerns.
Under President Joe Biden, these measures were continued and expanded.
GNA