Chinese plan to curb rare metals raises alarm for chip, car and tech firms

Country has announced export restrictions on some gallium and germanium products from August

US secretary of state Antony Blinken with Chinese president Xi Jinping in Beijing last month. China produces about 60% of the world's germanium.

China has said it will impose export restrictions on some gallium and germanium products from August, raising alarm from the European Commission over the strategic metals widely used by chip makers such as Intel, electric car makers, by cable manufacturers, and by other technology giants that employ many thousands of people in Ireland. 

Germanium ores are rare and most germanium is produced as a by-product of zinc production and from coal fly ash.