China has rolled out measures to control exports not only of rare earths, a strategic mineral, but also of items related to semiconductors and batteries.
China's Ministry of Commerce and the General Administration of Customs said on the 9th that they had jointly decided to implement export controls on items related to superhard materials and on items related to lithium-ion batteries, cathode materials, and artificial graphite anode materials. The export controls will formally take effect starting on the 8th of next month.
Items related to superhard materials include: ▲ artificial diamond micropowder with an average particle size of 50 microns (one-millionth of a meter, μm) or less ▲ artificial diamond single crystals with an average particle size greater than 50 μm and up to 500 μm ▲ artificial diamond cutting wire saws that meet conditions such as a wire thickness of 45 μm or less. These are materials and supplies used in semiconductor manufacturing, among other applications.
Items related to lithium-ion batteries include: ▲ rechargeable lithium-ion batteries with a gravimetric energy density of 300 Wh/kg or higher ▲ equipment for manufacturing rechargeable lithium-ion batteries ▲ high-performance LFP (lithium iron phosphate) cathode materials ▲ ternary cathode precursors ▲ lithium-poor manganese-based cathode materials ▲ equipment for manufacturing cathode materials.
The Ministry of Commerce and the General Administration of Customs said the move was "to safeguard national security and interests and to fulfill international obligations such as nonproliferation under relevant regulations," adding that it "will be implemented after approval by the State Council."
Meanwhile, China's Ministry of Commerce also announced in the morning the "decision to control exports of offshore (overseas) rare earth materials," requiring export licenses for dual-use (materials that can be used for both military and civilian purposes) issued by the Ministry of Commerce for three types of rare earth products.
The three types are: ▲ items among rare earth permanent magnet materials and rare earth target materials manufactured overseas in which the value of rare earths produced in China accounts for 0.1% or more ▲ rare earth items that use Chinese technology in rare earth mining and smelting and separation, and metal smelting ▲ rare earth items produced in China, such as samarium and dysprosium.
Among these, the controls on the first and second categories will take effect starting Dec. 1, while the controls on China-produced rare earths take effect immediately on the 9th, the date of the announcement.