How US buyers of critical minerals bypass China’s export ban

Unusually large quantities of antimony – a metal used in batteries, chips and flame retardants – have poured into the United States from Thailand and Mexico since China barred U.S. shipments last year, according to customs and shipping records.

Why it matters

China dominates the supply of antimony as well as gallium and germanium, used in telecommunications, semiconductors and military technology. Beijing banned exports of these minerals to the U.S. on December 3 following Washington’s crackdown on China’s chip sector. The resulting shift in trade flows underscores the scramble for critical minerals and China’s struggle to enforce its curbs.