US expected to get around China’s export controls on gallium, an essential component for American military radar tech

Name: China restricts critical metal exports following Western semiconductor curbs in latest trade war
Uploaded: 2023-07-17T07:58:54.000Z
Duration: 3 min 36 s
Description: China restricts critical metal exports following Western semiconductor curbs in latest trade war

Gallium, subject to Beijing export controls from August 1, has long been an essential material in US advanced defence systems and military supply chain

Academic expects ‘temporary friction or slight cost increases as the market adjusts’ but disruption would be limited as Washington finds alternative source

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From August 1, China will restrict the export of gallium and germanium to safeguard “national security and interests”. But analysts expect the disruption to the US defence supply chain to be temporary. Image: Reuters

Seong Hyeon Choi

Published: 3:58pm, 17 Jul 2023Updated: 5:17pm, 17 Jul 2023

Beijing’s recent export controls on gallium – an essential component in US military radars – could have a limited impact on the Pentagon’s supply chain because American defence leaders will look for alternative supplies, experts say.

This month, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced it would implement export controls on items related to gallium and germanium from August 1 to safeguard “national security and interests”, a move viewed as retaliation for US-backed sanctions on the Chinese semiconductor industry.

The measures require Beijing’s permission to export the strategic metals, and violations could lead to administrative punishment or criminal charges.

When announcing the restrictions, China’s Ministry of Commerce said germanium and gallium products served clear dual military and civilian purposes.

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China restricts critical metal exports following Western semiconductor curbs in latest trade war

Gallium is widely used in advanced microelectronics, ranging from semiconductors to LEDs, and has long been an essential material in US advanced defence systems and the military supply chain. It has been mainly used in high-energy radars, such as the US Navy’s AN/SPY-6 and the Marine Corps’ AN/TPS-80 G/ATOR radars.

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