Tiny But Vital Metal Markets Rush to Adjust to Chinese Clampdown

  • Beijing puts stricter curbs on germanium, gallium flows to US
  • Move reveals pinch points in defense and chip supply chains
Gallium crystals.Photographer: Hendrik Schmidt/Getty Images
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Chinese curbs on exports of three niche metals to the US have already rattled the market. Now, a bigger clampdown looks set to have far-reaching ramifications for supply chains feeding American defense and chip-making industries.