China suspends Ga/Ge/Sb export ban to the US
A pause, not a reversal. China's ban on shipping three key chip metals to the US is on hold until November 27, 2026.
What happened
Following the Trump–Xi meeting in South Korea, China's commerce ministry suspended its December 2024 ban on exporting gallium, germanium and antimony to the US. The suspension runs until November 27, 2026.
The metals remain on China's dual-use export list, so every shipment still needs a Chinese license, and the separate ban on supplying US military end users stays in place. China also paused stricter checks on certain graphite exports to the US.
Our take
This put a ceiling on the worst-case scenario, but only temporarily. Licensing gives Beijing a dial it can turn at any time, and the expiry date lands right as trade-truce negotiations come due.
Anyone running a chip, optics or defense supply chain should treat November 2026 as a planning deadline — build inventory, qualify alternative suppliers, and assume the pause may not be renewed.
Why it matters for AI infrastructure
Gallium and germanium are core to the optical interconnects and power electronics in AI data centers. Antimony is used in flame retardants and some semiconductors. All three are exposed to a single policy decision.
What we're watching
- Whether the suspension is extended before November 27, 2026
- License approval times for US-bound shipments
- Ex-China gallium and germanium output ramping up