China announced abrupt controls on exports of some gallium and germanium products, effective from August 1, which in turn has ramped up a trade war with the United States. The same could potentially cause more disruption to global supply chains, reported Reuters.
“Chinese industry players also fear that curbs on rare earth exports could follow,” the news added.
The news quotes Peter Arkell, chairman of the Global Mining Association of China, saying "China has hit the American trade restrictions where it hurts."
The Commerce Ministry will meet with major producers of the metals on Thursday to discuss the export restrictions, four people familiar with the matter told Reuters.
China’s latest retaliation is in reaction to the US curb on AI chips’ shipments to Beijing. On the same line is the news from the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) that the Biden administration is preparing to restrict Chinese companies’ access to U.S. cloud-computing services.
Key details
One US semiconductor wafer manufacturer said on Tuesday it was applying for export permits, while a China-based germanium producer said buyer enquiries had come in as prices surged.
The eight gallium and six germanium products cited are also used in other high-tech industries.
Some in the metals industry said they feared China could follow with new restrictions on rare earth exports, after curbing shipments 12 years ago in a dispute with Japan.
AUD/USD grinds higher
The news fails to gain any major immediate directions amid the US holiday but can weigh on the sentiment during the full markets.
Also read: Forex Today: After a quiet day attention turns to FOMC minutes
Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers. The author will not be held responsible for information that is found at the end of links posted on this page.
If not otherwise explicitly mentioned in the body of the article, at the time of writing, the author has no position in any stock mentioned in this article and no business relationship with any company mentioned. The author has not received compensation for writing this article, other than from FXStreet.
FXStreet and the author do not provide personalized recommendations. The author makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this information. FXStreet and the author will not be liable for any errors, omissions or any losses, injuries or damages arising from this information and its display or use. Errors and omissions excepted.
The author and FXStreet are not registered investment advisors and nothing in this article is intended to be investment advice.
Recommended content
Editors’ Picks
AUD/USD post moderate gains on solid US data, weak Aussie PMI
The Australian Dollar registered solid gains of 0.65% against the US Dollar on Thursday, courtesy of an upbeat market mood amid solid economic data from the United States. However, the Federal Reserve’s latest monetary policy decision is still weighing on the Greenback. The AUD/USD trades at 0.6567.
EUR/USD recovers to top end of consolidation ahead of Friday’s US NFP
EUR/USD drove back to the top end of recent consolidation on Thursday, recovering chart territory north of the 1.0700 handle as market risk appetite regains balance heading into another US Nonfarm Payrolls Friday.
Gold recoils on hawkish Fed moves, unfazed by dropping yields and softer US Dollar
Gold price clings to the $2,300 figure in the mid-North American session on Thursday amid an upbeat market sentiment, falling US Treasury yields, and a softer US Dollar. Traders are still digesting Wednesday’s Federal Reserve decision to hold rates unchanged.
Ethereum may sustain trading inside key range, ETH ETFs to be delayed until 2025
Ethereum is beginning to show signs of recovery on Thursday despite a second consecutive day of poor performance in Hong Kong's spot Ethereum ETFs. Bloomberg analyst James Seyffart has also shared that a spot Ethereum ETF may not happen in the US in 2024.
NFP: The ultimate litmus test for doves vs. hawks
US Nonfarm Payrolls will undoubtedly be the focal point of upcoming data releases. The estimated figure stands at 241k, notably lower than the robust 303k reported in the previous release and below all other readings recorded this year.