China imposed restrictions on exporting two metals that are crucial to parts of the semiconductor, telecommunications and electric-vehicle industries in an escalation of the country’s tit-for-tat trade war on technology with the US and Europe.
Beijing will limit gallium and germanium exports from Aug. 1. Both metals are indispensable for producing some chips
from what the article says, it will be a licensing requirement issued by the PRC. How they enforce it will be interesting. There is speculation that they might just block suppliers of components for US defense companies and exclude civillian applications. This would severely slow down GaAs and GaN radars, advanced components for ships, planes, thaad, etc. but wouldnt necessarily upend global supply chains for solar panels or the next iPhone.
from what the article says, it will be a licensing requirement issued by the PRC. How they enforce it will be interesting. There is speculation that they might just block suppliers of components for US defense companies and exclude civillian applications. This would severely slow down GaAs and GaN radars, advanced components for ships, planes, thaad, etc. but wouldnt necessarily upend global supply chains for solar panels or the next iPhone.