Why China has banned export of some rare minerals to the US

Which uncommon minerals person been banned?

China has banned the exports of 3 cardinal uncommon minerals — gallium, germanium, and antimony. Gallium (atomic fig 31) is simply a soft, silvery-white metal, akin to Aluminium, whose melting constituent is conscionable supra country temperature. Germanium (atomic fig 32) is simply a greyish-white metalloid (meaning semi-metal) which is brittle. Antimony (atomic fig 51) is simply a hard, brittle, silvery metalloid.

What is the value of the banned uncommon minerals?

Gallium, germanium, and antimony clasp a important spot successful the satellite contiguous arsenic they are mostly utilized successful computers, defence, and renewable vigor technology. While germanium is important for low-carbon technologies specified arsenic star cells, semiconductor wafers made by utilizing gallium arsenide alternatively of silicon tin tally astatine higher frequencies and are vigor resistant, according to Wafer World Inc., a starring American company.

Semiconductors, besides known arsenic microchips oregon integrated circuits, are the ‘new oil’ arsenic they are practically wrong each indispensable merchandise these days — from household appliances to blase defence systems, mobile phones to cars, toys to high-end luxury products.

Moreover, germanium is besides utilized successful infrared technology, fibre optic cables and star cells. Antimony is utilized successful bullets and different weaponry, according to a study by Reuters.

Why has China banned these uncommon minerals?

In a connection connected Monday, China banned the export of gallium, germanium, and antimony to the US, citing national information concerns.

However, experts judge that the prohibition is simply a antagonistic determination against not lone the Biden administration’s caller prohibition but besides Trump’s plans to curb the dominance of Chinese goods successful the US.

China produces astir each the world’s proviso of captious minerals needed to marque precocious technologies including semiconductors — it produces 60% of the world’s germanium and 80% of gallium. Therefore, it is present utilizing the export prohibition to deed the US.

But it is besides apt that these measures tin backfire for China. For instance, “after China temporarily halted exports to Japan successful 2010, the Japanese authorities helped Lynas, a institution successful Australia, to make a ample uncommon world metals excavation determination arsenic an alternate supplier,” according to a study by The New York Times.