US firms dodging restrictions to get China's minerals
Beijing banned exports of antimony, gallium, and germanium to the US in December, retaliating against Washington's crackdown on China's chip industry amid a broader trade clash between the two superpowers.
The ban has caused significant disruptions across key sectors of the US economy, including technology, defense, and renewable energy, all of which rely heavily on the resources.
To maintain access, US buyers have turned to trans-shipment routes through countries like Thailand and Mexico. Reuters cited customs data showing a surge in antimony oxide imports from both nations between December and April — volumes that exceeded the combined total of the previous three years.
Chinese export records show that Thailand and Mexico were among the top three destinations for China's antimony shipments in 2025 —despite neither ranking in the top 10 in 2023, the last full year before the ban.
Industry sources corroborated Reuters' findings. Two US company executives confirmed they had successfully procured restricted minerals originating in China by purchasing through intermediaries in recent months.
China has long been the dominant source of antimony, gallium, and germanium, minerals on which the US has been heavily reliant. Before the December 2024 export ban, China supplied about 72% of US antimony imports, 19% of gallium imports, and 12% of germanium imports.
The broader US-China trade and tariff conflict has been escalating since early 2024, when Washington expanded export controls on high-tech sectors, especially artificial intelligence and semiconductor tools. In April, US President Donald Trump imposed sweeping tariffs on imports from over 90 countries, including China.
Beijing retaliated with its own hikes, prompting spiraling tariffs that peaked at 145% from the US and 125% from China.After talks in Geneva in May, both sides agreed to pause further increases. By late June, they had finalized a limited trade understanding focused on restoring rare-earth mineral exports from China to the US, materials crucial to electronics, defense systems, and clean energy.
The deal does not include antimony, gallium, or germanium, which — while essential — are not classified as rare earths but as critical minerals.
US officials have stressed that the agreement's success depends on both countries delivering on their promises.
Beijing, in turn, has expressed hope that Washington will 'implement the important consensus' reached during the June phone call between President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, reduce misunderstandings, and pursue cooperation through sustained dialogue.
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