The Chinese government has announced export restrictions on two important raw materials in the chip industry. As of August 1, exporters of the raw materials gallium and germanium must apply for a license from the Chinese Ministry of Commerce if they want to export the raw materials from China. The exporters must also provide information about the foreign buyers. This is reported by the news agency Bloomberg Monday.
The announcement by the Chinese government follows a decision by the Dutch government to limit the export of chip machines to China. Minister Liesje Schreinemacher (Foreign Trade, VVD) announced this decision last Friday. The restrictions were already announced by the cabinet in March under pressure from the US government and with an appeal to “(inter)national security”.
With the export restrictions on gallium and germanium, China is appealing to “Chinese national security,” writes Bloomberg. The export restrictions also come at a time when the US is trying to prevent China from learning how to build advanced chips on its own.
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