DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ China is restricting the export of two little-known metals crucial to the semiconductor industry. It shows Beijing still holds important chips in its tech war with the West.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

China will restrict the exports of gallium and germanium — metals vital to chipmaking — from August 1. The export curb is seen as a retaliatory move by Beijing amid a chip war with the West. A recent move by China to restrict the export of two little-known metals has again sent the semiconductor industry into a tailspin. Exporters can apply for export licenses if they want to continue shipping the products out of China, per the notice. China accounts for about 80% and 60% of global gallium and germanium production, respectively, according to Critical Raw Materials Alliance, a European industry association.

Persons: —, Biden, Janet Yellen, haven't, Ewa Manthey, Europe — Organizations: Authorities, Morning, West, Wall Street, Eurasia Group, US, Industry, Reuters, Alliance, ING Locations: China, Beijing, Netherlands, United States, Japan, European, North America, Europe

In 2022, top importers of China's gallium products were Japan, Germany and the Netherlands, news website Caixin said, citing customs data. Top importers of germanium products were Japan, France, Germany and the United States, it said. The buyers were anticipating it could take as long as two months to obtain export permits. Jefferies analysts said they saw the export controls as China's second and bigger countermeasure after the Micron ban. "If this action doesn't change the U.S.-China dynamics, more rare earth export controls should be expected."

Persons: Peter Arkell, Jeffries, Janet Yellen, Arkell, Caixin, Morris Young, Roy Lee, Amy Lv, Brenda Goh, Siyi Liu, Kentaro Sugiyama, Joyce Lee, Ben Blanchard, Melanie Burton, Tom Hogue Organizations: China, Companies, Global Mining Association of China, U.S, AXT Inc, Micron, Jefferies, ., Thomson Locations: China, Beijing BEIJING, SHANGHAI, United States, Washington, Beijing, Japan, Germany, Netherlands, France, Europe, Taiwan, South Korea, Yunnan, Shanghai, Tokyo, Seoul, Taipei, Melbourne

☆ US firm AXT applying for permits after China restricts chipmaking exports
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

California-headquartered AXT, which has manufacturing facilities in China, said its Chinese subsidiary Tongmei would immediately proceed to apply for the permits. China's commerce ministry said on Monday it would control exports of eight gallium products and six germanium products from Aug. 1 to protect its national security and interests. Gallium is used in gallium nitride and gallium arsenide compound semiconductors for products ranging from power electronics to 5G base stations. In 2022, top importers of China's gallium products were Japan, Germany and the Netherlands, news website Caixin said, citing customs data. Top importers of germanium products are Japan, France, Germany and the United States.

Persons: Morris Young, AXT, Jefferies, Caixin, Brenda Goh, Tom Hogue Organizations: AXT Inc, U.S ., Micron, ., Thomson Locations: SHANGHAI, China, Beijing, . California, United States, Washington, U.S, Netherlands, Japan, Germany, France

☆ China slaps export curbs on chipmaking metals in tech war with the U.S, Europe
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

China is restricting the exports of gallium and germanium, two metals key to the manufacturing of semiconductors, its commerce ministry said in a statement late on July 3, escalating a technological trade war over access to microchips with Europe and the United States. China is restricting the exports of two metals key to the manufacturing of semiconductors, its commerce ministry said late Monday, escalating a technological trade war with Europe and the United States over access to microchips. These new regulations — imposed on grounds of national security — will require exporters to seek a license to ship some gallium and germanium compounds starting Aug. 1, China's commerce ministry said. Applications for these export licenses must identify importers and end users and stipulate how these metals will be used. Both are outperforming the 0.1% gain for the CSI 300 index of China's largest A-share listings.

Organizations: CSI Locations: China, Europe, United States, Yunnan, Shenzhen

☆ What are Gallium and Germanium? China curbs exports of metals critical to chips and other tech
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Germanium and gallium are the two metals in the spotlight. China's commerce ministry on Monday said that new regulations will require exporters of gallium and germanium to get a license to ship the metals. What are germanium and gallium used for? Gallium is used for manufacturing the gallium arsenide chemical compound, which can make radio frequency chips for mobile phones and satellite communication, for example. China produces 60% of the world's germanium and 80% of gallium, according to the Critical Raw Materials Alliance, an industry body.

Organizations: U.S, Micron, Alliance, CRM Alliance Locations: China, Europe, U.S, Beijing, Japan

☆ German industry urges reduced dependency after China export controls
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The Chinese export restrictions "illustrate the urgency for Europe and Germany to quickly reduce their dependency on critical raw materials now," said Wolfgang Niedermark, a member of the BDI German industrial association. In a position paper, the group said that Germany's and Europe's dependency on mineral raw materials such as rare earths from China was "already greater than that of oil and natural gas from Russia". Another German industry group, Bitkom, called for steps to massively increase Germany and Europe's digital sovereignty . Last week, European Union member states adopted the Critical Raw Materials Act, a centrepiece of the EU strategy to ensure industry can compete with the United States and China. The BDI's Niedermark said that agreement to recycle and process raw materials sent an important signal but called for a similar push to establish domestic mining in Europe.

Persons: Wolfgang Niedermark, Bernhard Rohleder, Niedermark, Rachel More, Hakan Ersen, Madeline Chambers, Miranda Murray, Emelia Organizations: Union, Thomson Locations: BERLIN, Europe, China, Germany, Russia, Berlin, Ukraine, Beijing, United States

☆ Elon Musk visits China's commerce ministry
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang meets Tesla Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk in Beijing, China, in this handout image released by China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs May 30, 2023. Tesla CEO Elon Musk kicked off his second day in China with a visit to the country's commerce ministry on Wednesday morning. A day earlier, he met with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang. Tesla and CATL did not respond to requests for comment on the meeting or on Musk's plans in China. He declined to comment at the hotel when questioned by reporters about the aim of his trip, Tesla's prospects in China and plans for Tesla's plant in Shanghai.

Persons: Qin, Elon, Elon Musk, Qin Gang, Zeng Yuqun, CATL, Musk, Tesla's, Grace Tao, Tom Zhu Organizations: Qin Gang, China's Ministry of Foreign, Foreign, CATL Locations: Beijing, China, Tesla's China, Shanghai, U.S

☆ China protests U.S. sanctioning of firms dealing with Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-15 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Beijing on Saturday protested U.S. sanctions against additional Chinese companies over their alleged attempts to evade U.S. export controls on Russia, calling it an illegal move that endangers global supply chains. "The U.S. should immediately correct its wrongdoing and stop its unreasonable suppression of Chinese companies. China will resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies," it added. However, Foreign Minister Qin Gang on Friday said China won't sell weapons to either side in the war, responding to Western concerns that Beijing could provide outright military assistance to Russia. "Regarding the export of military items, China adopts a prudent and responsible attitude," Qin said at a news conference alongside visiting German counterpart Annalena Baerbock.

☆ China renews pledge for wider market access for foreign investors
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BEIJING, March 16 (Reuters) - China's commerce ministry said on Wednesday it will continue to push for the relaxation of market access for foreign investors, renewing efforts to lure foreign capital as the world's second-largest economy emerges from three years of COVID disruptions. As China reopens after dropping its zero tolerance policy for COVID-19 in December, convincing foreign investors to return to China will help reinvigorate an economy that grew at its slowest rates last year in half a century. China will "help foreign companies seize the opportunity to deepen their presence in China," Shu Jueting, a commerce ministry spokesperson, told reporters. Shu told reporters that China will also "steadily expand institutional openness." China's fresh efforts to court foreign investors and businesses also came as global uncertainties, from wars to bank crises, push them to search for new safe havens.

☆ China opposes U.S. adding Chinese firms to trade blacklist
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

HONG KONG, March 3 (Reuters) - China opposes the United States adding several Chinese firms to its trade blacklist, China's commerce ministry said on Friday. China urges the United States to stop using any excuse to suppress Chinese firms, the ministry said in a statement posted on its website. The U.S. Commerce Department, which oversees export controls, recently added two units of genetics company BGI (300676.SZ) to the export control list. Reporting by Meg Shen and Twinnie SiuOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Such efforts to attract foreign investment come as the pandemic and geopolitical tensions push companies to diversify their supply chains away from China. The Commerce Ministry said Thursday that for the first time, it would launch events for an "Invest in China Year." Apple later said the Zhengzhou factory disruptions would delay deliveries of some iPhone 14 models. He also noted "serious challenges" to attracting foreign investment. Those include unfair competition with local players in China due to industrial policies, lack of legal protection for foreign business in China and geopolitical risks, Wang said.

Analysts expect China's oil imports to hit a record high in 2023 to meet increased demand for transportation fuel and as new refineries come on stream. China and India have become major buyers of Russian crude amid Western sanctions on Russian oil and more recently, embargoes and price caps because of the Ukraine war. In India, the world's third-biggest oil importer, crude imports rose to a six-month high in January, government data showed. Russia plans to cut oil production by 500,000 barrels per day (bpd), equating to about 5% of its output, in March after the West imposed price caps on Russian oil and oil products. Prices will move higher "as the market pivots back to deficit with underinvestment, shale constraints and OPEC discipline ensuring supply does not meet demand", they wrote.

Both crude benchmarks settled $2 down on Friday for a decline of about 4% over the week after the United States reported higher crude and gasoline inventories. Analysts expect China's oil imports to hit a record high in 2023 to meet increased demand for transportation fuel and as new refineries come on stream. China and India have become major buyers of Russian crude amid Western sanctions on Russian oil and more recently, embargoes and price caps because of the Ukraine war. Russia plans to cut oil production by 500,000 barrels per day (bpd), equating to about 5% of its output, in March after the West imposed price caps on Russian oil and oil products. Prices will move higher "as the market pivots back to deficit with underinvestment, shale constraints and OPEC discipline ensuring supply does not meet demand", they wrote.

☆ China imposes sanctions on Lockheed Martin, Raytheon over Taiwan arms sales
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] The logo of Lockheed Martin is seen at Euronaval, the world naval defence exhibition in Le Bourget near Paris, France, October 23, 2018. REUTERS/Benoit TessierBEIJING, Feb 16 (Reuters) - China's commerce ministry on Thursday said it put Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) and Raytheon Technologies Corp (RTX.N) onto an "unreliable entities list" over arms sales to Taiwan, its latest sanctions against the two U.S. defense contractors. The regulations prohibit Lockheed Martin and Raytheon Missile and Defense Corporation, a subsidiary of Raytheon Technologies, from "engaging in import and export activities related to China", according to the commerce ministry statement. China previously sanctioned the two firms in Feburary last year over a $100-million arms sale to Taiwan, a self-ruled island which Beijing views as a breakaway province. China's foreign ministry at the time said the sale "undermined China's security interests, seriously undermined China-U.S. relations and peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait".

☆ Morning Bid: Growth trumps rates
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

While there were some questions about seasonal adjustments in the data, economists were impressed that sales growth was pretty broad based and have scrambled to re-crunch first quarter U.S. output forecasts as a result. There may be a more mixed picture from Thursday's data slate on producer prices, housing starts and weekly jobless claims. Even though rates futures and Treasury yields ticked back a bit today, pricing now has Fed policy rates moving as high as 5.25% and staying above 5% all year. And while full-year earnings growth estimates for S&P500 companies have sunk to zero, consensus forecasts are now pencilling in a rebound of almost 12% next year. Uncertainty about the pace of growth and annual tax receipts in April makes it difficult for government officials to predict the exact "X-date", it said.

☆ China slams U.S. for blacklisting six Chinese entities
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] The suspected Chinese spy balloon drifts to the ocean after being shot down off the coast in Surfside Beach, South Carolina, U.S. February 4, 2023. REUTERS/Randall Hill/File PhotoBEIJING, Feb 14 (Reuters) - China resolutely opposes Washington adding six Chinese entities to its trade blacklist after a Chinese balloon was detected over the United States last week and shot down, China's commerce ministry said on Tuesday. "China hopes the U.S. will stop unreasonable suppression of Chinese enterprises, and will take necessary measures to resolutely safeguard legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises," the ministry said. The Biden administration last Friday blacklisted six Chinese entities connected to Beijing's suspected surveillance balloon program. read moreThe entities include the government-owned China Electronics Technology Group Corporation 48th Research Institute, as well as Beijing Nanjiang Aerospace Technology, a unit of Shanghai-listed developer Deluxe Family (600503.SS).

China's launch of a spy balloon on a high-altitude journey over the United States was unacceptable and irresponsible, he said, but he was postponing - not canceling - his visit. Biden has said the balloon needed to be shot down, but has played down both the security threat and the impact on U.S.-China relations. GIVE TALKS A CHANCEShort of a high-level visit, there are opportunities for diplomacy. "The Chinese don't want to look weak and they probably don't want to admit that they lied (about the balloon). President Biden is also under pressure from Republicans in Congress who insist the balloon should have been shot down sooner," said Glaser.

☆ World must abandon Cold War mentality, China's vice premier tells Davos
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

In a special address at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Liu repeatedly called on countries to improve diplomatic ties, "to "firmly safeguard world peace." China's Vice Premier Liu He said Tuesday that the world needs to abandon its Cold War mentality and seek to strengthen international cooperation. In a special address at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Liu repeatedly called on countries to improve diplomatic ties, "to "firmly safeguard world peace." Earlier on Tuesday, China's commerce ministry said the country's vice premier would soon meet U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen in Switzerland. Late last year, U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping signaled a desire to improve bilateral ties.

☆ China's exports, imports shrink again in Dec on weakening global demand
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

SummarySummary Companies China's Dec exports worst since Feb 2020, slightly better than forecastImports tumble by smaller margin amid lacklustre demandDomestic demand should slowly recover after zero-COVID scrappedExport outlook gloomy in 2023, major threat to China's growthBEIJING, Jan 13 (Reuters) - China's exports shrank sharply in December as global demand cooled, missing their typical year-end bounce, while imports tumbled again as surging COVID-19 infections and a property downturn weighed heavily on domestic demand. WEAK GLOBAL DEMAND COULD TEMPER ECONOMIC RECOVERYChina's commerce ministry said on Thursday that slowing external demand and the rising risks of a global recession are posing the biggest pressures to the country's trade stabilisation, leaving "arduous tasks." REBOUNDAnalysts polled by Reuters expect China's economic growth to rebound to 4.9% in 2023, before steadying in 2024, a Reuters poll showed. Jin Chaofeng, whose company in the east coast city of Hangzhou exports outdoor rattan furniture, said he has no market expansion or hiring plans for 2023 as he remains cautious about the global demand outlook. "With the lifting of COVID curbs, domestic demand is expected to improve but not for exports...," he said.

☆ China consumer inflation accelerates in Dec; PPI falls with soft demand
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Lam YikBEIJING, Jan 12 (Reuters) - China's annual consumer inflation rate accelerated in December, driven by rising food prices even as domestic demand wavered amid restrained economic activity during the month. The consumer price index (CPI) was 1.8% higher than a year earlier, rising faster than the 1.6% annual gain seen in November, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed on Thursday. The producer price index (PPI) showed an annual drop for a third straight month. In December it was down 0.7% from a year earlier, falling less than an annual contraction of 1.3% seen in November. read moreReporting by Liangping Gao, Joe Cash and Liz Lee; Editing by Bradley PerrettOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ China officially launches WTO dispute against U.S. chip export curbs
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Dec 15 (Reuters) - China has officially launched a trade dispute at the World Trade Organization (WTO) against the United States, challenging Washington's chip export curbs, the WTO said on Thursday. The move was announced by China's commerce ministry earlier this week, saying that U.S. curbs "threatened the stability of the global industrial supply chains". read moreReporting by Akanksha Khushi in BengaluruOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

WASHINGTON, Dec 14 (Reuters) - The Biden administration plans to remove some Chinese entities from a red flag trade list, a U.S. official told Reuters on Wednesday amid closer cooperation with Beijing. The plan to remove them soon from the so-called "unverified" list is thanks to greater willingness from the Chinese government to permit U.S. site visits, the person said. The decision, which mean U.S. exporters will no longer have to conduct additional due diligence before sending goods to the Chinese entities, may not herald a broader thaw. Companies are added to the unverified list because the United States cannot complete on-site visits to determine whether they can be trusted to receive sensitive U.S. technology exports. In October, YMTC was added to the unverified list along with dozens of other Chinese entities, fueling widespread speculation that the company would be added to the entity list.

☆ China launches suit at WTO against U.S. chip export curbs - Global Times
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Dec 13 (Reuters) - China on Monday launched a suit at the World Trade Organization over against the United States over its chip export control measures, the state-backed Global Times said in a tweet on Tuesday, citing China's commerce ministry. The Chinese mission to the WTO in Geneva and the U.S. Trade Representative did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment. The United States has blocked appointments to the WTO's top ruling body on trade disputes, meaning some rows never get settled. The alleged complaint by China on U.S. chip export curbs comes days after a WTO ruling against Washington in a separate suit about metal tariffs that had been brought by China among others. The United States, a regular critic of the WTO's arbitration proceedings, rejected the WTO's findings.

[1/2] European Council President Charles Michel speaks with European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the Chinese President Xi Jinping via video conference during an EU-China summit at the European Council building in Brussels, Belgium April 1, 2022. Olivier Matthys/Pool via REUTERSBEIJING/BRUSSELS, Nov 8 (Reuters) - Chinese authorities behind a major trade expo in Shanghai pulled an opening ceremony address by the European Council president that was set to criticise Russia's "illegal war" in Ukraine and call for reduced trade dependency on China, diplomats said. "President Michel was invited to address 5th Hongqiao Forum/CIIE in Shanghai," Barend Leyts, a spokesman for Michel told Reuters. Europe has been over-dependent on Russia for fossil fuels, leading to a trade imbalance, Michel was to say. Michel was also set to call for China to do more do put an end to the bloodshed in Ukraine.

☆ China opposes Canada's order on lithium mining investments
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

BEIJING, Nov 6 (Reuters) - China on Sunday said it will take the necessary steps to safeguard the rights and interests of its companies after Canada last week ordered three Chinese companies to divest their investments in Canadian critical minerals, citing national security. In a statement, China's commerce ministry said it urged Canada to stop politicising economic and trade issues. Reporting by Ella Cao and Tony Munroe; Editing by Christian SchmollingerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Search resuls for: "China's Commerce Ministry"

25 mentions found