WASHINGTON – The White House announced Wednesday that China will resume exports of several critical metals – rare earths, gallium, germanium, antimony, and graphite – to U.S. end users and their suppliers through the issuance of general licenses. This move comes after China imposed export controls on these materials in December 2024, initially citing national security concerns and a desire to prevent military applications.
Gallium, germanium, and antimony are essential components in key high-tech industries, including semiconductors, defense, and renewable energy. The announcement followed a recent high-profile summit between U.S. President donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The “general licenses” will permit repeated shipments to pre-approved buyers, a standard provision under export control regulations. However, the White House statement also confirmed that China’s existing export controls on rare earths remain in effect, a policy that has previously been leveraged as a trade tactic by Beijing.
