Beijing: In a move signalling easing trade tensions with Washington, China’s Ministry of Commerce announced on Sunday the temporary suspension of some export restrictions on critical dual-use materials, including gallium, germanium, antimony, and superhard materials.
According to a ministry statement cited by Xinhua, the suspension pertains to the second clause of Announcement No. 46 (2024) and will remain in effect from November 9, 2025, to November 27, 2026. The clause had previously restricted exports of these materials to the United States and imposed tighter scrutiny on graphite exports.
However, the first clause of the announcement — which prohibits the export of dual-use items for US military users or military purposes — will continue to apply, as confirmed by the Global Times. The ministry clarified that only the licensing and review processes under the second clause are affected by this decision.
The move comes shortly after a significant trade and economic understanding reached between China and the United States during a meeting between Presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump in Busan, South Korea.
Under the new agreement, China agreed to suspend export controls on rare earth elements and other strategic resources, withdraw retaliatory tariffs on US goods, and restart imports of American agricultural products such as soybeans, sorghum, and timber. Additionally, Beijing will allow operations to resume at Nexperia’s China-based facilities and halt investigations targeting American semiconductor companies.
In exchange, Washington will reduce certain tariffs on Chinese imports — particularly those related to fentanyl control — by 10% starting November 10, extend Section 301 tariff exemptions until November 2026, and pause retaliatory measures linked to ongoing investigations in the maritime and shipbuilding industries.
The temporary suspension of export controls is viewed as a confidence-building step aimed at stabilizing bilateral trade relations and restoring momentum to supply chains disrupted by years of tariff disputes.
