China grants export exemptions for Nexperia, suspends US critical minerals ban
China has taken concrete measures to grant exemptions for compliant exports for civilian use in response to the Nexperia semiconductor dispute and suspended its ban on exports of gallium, germanium, antimony and superhard materials to the United States until 27 November 2026, according to statements from the Ministry of Commerce.
‘In a responsible manner for the security and stability of the global semiconductor supply chain, China has taken concrete measures to grant exemptions for compliant exports for civilian use,’ a Ministry of Commerce spokesperson said, responding to a statement by EU Trade and Economic Security Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič regarding the Nexperia semiconductor issue.
‘The root cause and responsibility for the current chaos in the global semiconductor supply chain lie with the Netherlands,’ the spokesperson said. ‘China has noted that the EU has indicated it will work with the Netherlands and hopes the EU will further intensify its efforts to urge the Netherlands to withdraw its relevant measures as soon as possible and ensure the normal supply of Nexperia’s products.’
The spokesperson said China welcomes ‘the EU to continue exerting its influence to urge the Netherlands to correct its erroneous practices as soon as possible’.
The dispute centers on Netherlands-based Nexperia, a Chinese-owned semiconductor company. The Dutch government has sought to restrict Nexperia’s operations amid broader Western concerns about Chinese access to critical semiconductor technology.
The suspension of the critical minerals ban lifts the core export restrictions imposed on 3 December 2024 under Announcement No. 46, which had banned exports of gallium, germanium, antimony and superhard materials to US entities and imposed stricter licensing and end-use checks for graphite-related dual-use items, according to an announcement published 9 November.
The December 2024 ban came immediately after the US announced on 2 December new export controls and sanctions designed to prevent sales of advanced US microchips and semiconductor manufacturing equipment to China, according to a translation of the announcement published by the Center for Security and Emerging Technology.
The Ministry of Commerce said that with approval, the second paragraph of Announcement No. 46 of 2024 will be suspended from 9 November 2025. That paragraph stated that ‘in principle, the export of the relevant dual-use items gallium, germanium, antimony, and superhard materials to the United States is not permitted; stricter end-user and end-use checks will be implemented on exports of dual-use graphite items to the United States’.
China had justified the original restrictions as necessary ‘to safeguard the security and interests of the nation and to honor international obligations in areas such as nonproliferation’, according to the CSET translation.
The suspension means exports of gallium, germanium, antimony and superhard materials to the US may now be permitted under standard procedures, and graphite exports may face less stringent end-user and end-use reviews.
