China Lifts Export Ban on Key Semiconductor Metals to Boost US Tech Industry Until 2026

China has suspended its December 2024 export ban on three critical dual-use metals—gallium, germanium, and antimony.

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CNA

Most sources indicate the suspension targets shipments to the United States and will last until November 27, 2026.

CNA

Asian and Western mainstream outlets view this as significant for the technology supply chain.

The Straits Times reports that the US-targeted ban will be lifted through late 2026.

CNA notes the suspension of a ban that has been in place since December 2024.

Mining, a Western mainstream source, links the move to a de-escalation in trade tensions.

Fakti.bg and The Daily Tribunal emphasize that the suspension starts immediately and is aimed at the US market.

Le Monde adds that the formal suspension window begins on November 9, 2025, and ends on November 27, 2026.

Many outlets link the decision to renewed diplomacy and a desire to ease tensions in the chip trade dispute.

They often refer to a late-October meeting between Xi Jinping and Donald Trump as a key event.

Daily Observer

Asian and Western mainstream sources report that the leaders agreed to relax certain trade restrictions during a meeting in South Korea on October 30.

The Straits Times and ETV Bharat are among the sources reporting this agreement.

Spotmedia.ro and Le Monde.fr also note a recent summit between Presidents Xi and Trump.

Mining, a Western mainstream source, adds that China’s original ban was a response to US controls on high-bandwidth memory chips.

This detail is echoed in West Asian coverage, such as Türkiye Today, which frames the move as a reaction to US semiconductor and technology export controls.

Several sources say Beijing paired the metals decision with broader trade and export-control easing.

“China has lifted the export ban on gallium, antimony, and germanium to the USA”

DIE WELT

Asian outlets report China eased restrictions on graphite exports and extended a one‑year suspension of extra tariffs on US goods, including soybeans.

Western and Local Western outlets add more breadth to the reports.

Le Monde.fr reports China relaxed controls on graphite‑related dual‑use products, will issue export licenses for rare earths and other critical materials, and kept tariffs at 10% while stopping extra tariffs on US soybeans.

EconoTimes uniquely mentions super‑hard materials, a pause on stricter end‑user checks for dual‑use graphite, and suspension of October 2025 restrictions on rare earths and lithium battery components.

Minute Mirror adds a Europe‑focused angle, reporting partial resumption of Nexperia chip exports and a welcome from the European Commission and Germany’s Aumovio for civilian‑use shipments.

Outlets broadly agree the suspension could materially ease pressure on US tech and defense supply chains because of China’s dominance in these inputs.

Mining (Western Mainstream) stresses the metals’ centrality to US national security and the economy and notes China supplies nearly all refined gallium, most refined germanium, and a large share of mined antimony.

EconoTimes

It also quantifies the threatened US impact at $3.4 billion.

Western Mainstream and West Asian sources highlight the breadth of applications—from integrated circuits, LEDs, infrared, fiber optics, and solar cells to defense, aerospace, and semiconductors.

The Daily Tribunal (Other) underscores the dual‑use framing affecting key semiconductor components.

Practical implications will depend on timing and compliance details that vary across reports.

“China has announced the suspension of a ban imposed in December 2024 on exports of critical minerals, including gallium, germanium, and antimony, until November 27, 2026”

ETV Bharat

Some Western mainstream and local Western coverage states the relief is effective immediately, according to fakti.bg and EconoTimes.

ETV Bharat

Le Monde.fr specifies a formal start date of November 9, 2025.

Mining describes the relief period as lasting about one year, which differs from outlets like CNA and The Straits Times that set a firm end date of November 27, 2026.

Additional compliance signals include EconoTimes noting a pause on stricter end-user checks for dual-use graphite.

Le Monde.fr mentions issuing export licenses for rare earths and maintaining a 10% tariff level while suspending extra tariffs on US soybeans.