China Suspends Export Control On Dual-Use Items To The US
China will suspend the implementation of a key clause from its 2024 export control announcement that restricts the export of dual-use materials to the United States, the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) said on Sunday.
The suspension, which takes effect immediately, will remain in place until Nov 27, 2026, according to a statement published by the ministry.
The suspended clause — Clause 2 of Announcement No. 46 (2024) — had prohibited, in principle, the export of certain dual-use items related to gallium, germanium, antimony, and superhard materials to the U.S. It had also imposed stricter end-user and end-use reviews on the export of graphite products.
By pausing the clause’s enforcement, Chinese authorities are effectively relaxing restrictions that were originally introduced amid escalating technology and supply chain tensions between Beijing and Washington.
The 2024 export controls were widely viewed as part of China’s broader strategy to safeguard national security and ensure the “responsible use” of critical raw materials with military and semiconductor applications. Gallium and germanium, in particular, are essential components in chipmaking, telecommunications, and renewable energy technologies.
MOFCOM did not specify the reasons for the temporary suspension but emphasized that the decision would remain effective until late 2026.
Analysts say the move could signal a calibrated easing of trade frictions between the world’s two largest economies, coming at a time when both sides are showing cautious efforts to stabilize bilateral relations and maintain supply chain resilience.
