The News
China tightened controls on the export of some chipmaking materials to the US, a day after the Biden administration expanded curbs on Beijing’s access to cutting-edge semiconductors, further escalating trade tensions.
Washington has for years sought to slow Beijing’s technological progress and artificial-intelligence development by limiting availability of advanced American technology.
China has hit back in recent months by curtailing sales of critical materials: The latest curbs involve the rare minerals gallium, germanium, antimony, and others.
Tensions are ramping up ahead of US President-elect Donald Trump’s return to power, with Trump pledging hefty tariffs on Chinese imports, raising the specter of a renewed trade war between the world’s two biggest economies. That is a particular risk to China, which is already facing slowing growth and a huge debt burden.
