China has announced the immediate ban on the export of several strategic minerals to the United States, including gallium, germanium, antimony, and superhard materials, which are essential for the manufacture of semiconductors, weapons, and other advanced technologies. In addition, graphite will be subject to a stricter review process before export.
One of the most strategic raw materials in this conflict is tungsten (wolfram), a critical mineral for multiple industries due to its high resistance and density. It is used in the manufacture of cutting tools, aerospace components, military armour, and advanced technologies.
A blow to the U.S. technology and military industries.
The tightening of controls on these minerals is a response to the restrictions imposed by the Biden administration to limit China’s access to advanced U.S. technology. Beijing is using its dominance in the production of these strategic resources as a pressure tool in the technology war.
In recent years, China had already implemented regulations to oversee the export of gallium and germanium, materials essential for semiconductors, and in 2023 it added antimony, used in military explosives. Tungsten, although not directly mentioned in the recent restrictions, is a dual-use material (civil and military), meaning that any limitation on its supply could seriously affect the manufacture of key products in the U.S., including precision weaponry and industrial machinery.
China’s ban on exporting superhard minerals could cause particular concern within the U.S. national security community. The ban was reportedly aimed at Chinese tungsten exports, which are vital for manufacturing armour-piercing bullets and projectiles, said Oliver Friesen, CEO of Guardian Metal Resources, a London-based company planning to mine tungsten in Nevada.
Establishing a new tungsten mine in Nevada will take approximately three years, he said. “We are moving forward quite quickly,” he added.
When the Biden administration expanded the tariffs imposed by Trump during his first term in September, it added a 25 percent tariff on tungsten imports from China as part of an effort to encourage U.S. tungsten users to seek more reliable suppliers elsewhere.
The political context and the escalation of the conflict.
The Chinese announcement coincides with the possible arrival of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency, as he has promised to further tighten trade restrictions against China. In response, Beijing… has intensified its control over the export of strategic minerals.
China had already introduced new regulations in October requiring rare earth exporters —including tungsten— to provide detailed information on the end use of materials within Western supply chains. This policy has created uncertainty among manufacturers of semiconductors, weaponry, and electronic devices, which rely on a stable supply of these resources.
SOURCE| NEW YORK TIMES
