Chinese firms can no longer send gallium, germanium, antimony and superhard materials to the U.S., while graphite shipments will be controlled. (Bloomberg)

Talking point: Beijing’s move targets several metals that are used to make electronics and other hardware. It was responding to Washington on Monday further restricting sales of high-bandwidth memory chips used to run AI systems and semiconductor equipment to Chinese buyers. China accounts for about 80 per cent of worldwide gallium production and some 60 per cent of germanium, according to the Critical Raw Materials Alliance, a European lobby group. Gallium is the base for a new generation of lower-power chips designed for use in cars and major industrial settings. German firm Infineon acquired Ottawa-based GaN Systems, which is developing one version of the technology, for US$830 million last year.