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China suspends some export controls on dual-use items to US

Global Times

Move reflects commitment to safeguarding world peace while ensures stability of industrial and supply chains: expert

By GT staff reporters Published: Nov 09, 2025 01:40 PM

China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) announced on Sunday that it will temporarily suspend part of the 2024 export-control measures that aimed to strengthen restrictions on certain dual-use materials exported to the US.

In an announcement released on Sunday on its official website, MOFCOM said that, upon approval, the second clause of the notice, originally issued on December 3, 2024, focusing on enhancing export controls on specific dual-use items to the US, will be suspended starting from Sunday (November 9, 2025) until November 27, 2026.

This adjustment reflects China's clear and consistent position on the management of the exports on dual-use items, He Weiwen, a senior fellow at the Center for China and Globalization, told the Global Times on Sunday, noting that implementing corresponding management on relevant items reflects its commitment to safeguarding world peace and regional stability and its active participation in international non-proliferation efforts.

At the same time, granting licenses for corresponding applications that meet the relevant requirements also demonstrates China's efforts as a responsible major country to help ensure the security and stability of global key minerals' industrial and supply chains, He Weiwen said.

The previous notice, issued on December 3, 2024, in accordance with relevant regulations including the Export Control Law, said the Chinese government would ban the exports of dual-use items to US military users or for military end-uses, and, in principle, refuse licenses for relevant dual-use items related to gallium, germanium, antimony and superhard materials destined for the US while enacting stricter export control checks on the dual-use item of graphite.

The Sunday's announcement leaves the first clause - the ban on export of dual-use items to US military users or for military-end uses - in place while pausing the second clause's licensing and review restrictions for the stated period.

The December 2024 notice warned that organizations or individuals from any country who transfer or provide China-origin related dual-use items to US entities in violation of the rules would be held legally responsible.

"Gallium, germanium, antimony and other materials are important in the manufacturing of advanced semiconductors and military equipment," Zhang Xiaorong, director of the Beijing-based Cutting-Edge Technology Research Institute, told the Global Times.

This latest move from the Chinese side follows its longstanding approach, creating further opportunities to strengthen business ties between the two sides for win-win outcomes while reflecting consistent efforts to ensure the security and stability of global key minerals' industries and supply chains, Zhou Mi, a senior research fellow at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, told the Global Times on Sunday.

Moreover, China's management of the relevant materials has always been based on comprehensive considerations including national security, said Zhou, noting that if new external security risks emerge, China reserves the right to make further adjustments to the measures.

A spokesperson from China's MOFCOM reiterated China's stance on rare-earth export controls in a statement Thursday.

Asked to respond to media inquiry for comment regarding a report released by the White House on November 1 claiming that China will issue general export licenses for certain rare-earth elements, and observers have noted that this statement seems to differ from the press release issued by China's MOFCOM, which only referred to the export control measures announced on October 9, MOFCOM spokesperson He Yadong said at the regular press conference on Thursday that relevant items such as rare-earths have obvious dual-use characteristics for both civilian and military purposes.

China conducts license reviews in accordance with laws and regulations, granting approvals to applications that meet the requirements, He Yadong said. The spokesperson noted that China has repeatedly emphasized its willingness to strengthen communication and cooperation with all parties, continuously optimize the licensing process, actively apply general license and other facilitation measures, promote compliant trade of controlled items, and ensure the security and stability of global industrial and supply chains.