How US buyers of critical minerals bypass China's export ban
China dominates the supply of antimony, gallium and germanium used in telecommunications, semiconductors and military technology. Beijing banned exports of the minerals to the US on December 3 after Washington's crackdown on China's chip sector.
The resulting shift in trade flows underscores the scramble for critical minerals and China's struggle to enforce its curbs as it vies with the US for economic, military and technological supremacy.
Trade data illustrate a rerouting of US shipments via third countries, an issue Chinese officials have acknowledged.
Three industry experts corroborated the assessment, including two executives at two US companies who told Reuters they had obtained restricted minerals from China in recent months.
The US imported 3,834 metric tons of antimony oxides from Thailand and Mexico between December and April, US customs data show. That was more than almost the previous three years combined. Thailand and Mexico shot into the top three export markets for Chinese antimony this year, according to Chinese customs data through to May.
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