China imposes export controls on lithium batteries and graphite anode materials
China is imposing fresh export restrictions on lithium batteries, cathode materials and artificial graphite anode materials starting next month, citing national security concerns and non-proliferation obligations, ahead of a potential meeting between President Trump and China’s Xi Jinping.
The restrictions mark China’s latest move to leverage its dominant position in critical battery supply chains amid escalating trade conflict with Washington, and were announced the same day that the Ministry of Commerce (‘MOFCOM’) published new export restrictions on rare-earth materials, which China dominates globally.
MOFCOM said the battery restrictions will take effect on 8 November and require government licences for exports of high-performance lithium-ion batteries, specialised manufacturing equipment and critical battery materials.
The notice said the export controls apply to rechargeable lithium-ion batteries including cells and battery packs with an energy density of 300 watt-hours per kilogramme or higher, as well as specialised manufacturing equipment including winding machines, lamination machines and liquid injection machines, according to the announcement.
The controls extend to artificial graphite anode materials and mixtures of artificial and natural graphite, along with equipment for producing these materials.
China controls more than 90% of the global supply of battery-grade graphite, the largest component by weight in lithium-ion batteries. It also produces roughly 90% of the world’s rare-earth materials.
MOFCOM said the battery measures implement export controls in accordance with the country’s laws and regulations, conform to international obligations such as non-proliferation, and are in line with safeguarding national security and interests.
The announcement follows a series of export control actions by both countries throughout 2025 that have raised tensions over tariff and trade issues.
In July, China’s Ministry of Commerce announced it would require government licences for any transfer of eight key technologies for manufacturing electric vehicle batteries outside China, including three core technologies related to lithium iron phosphate batteries and five key technologies for producing lithium for all battery types. The same month, the US Department of Commerce set a preliminary 93.5% anti-dumping tariff on Chinese graphite for batteries, raising total effective tariffs to 160%, according to Stanford University researchers.
The trade and tariff tensions are expected to dominate the discussions at Trump and Xi’s tentative meeting during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit on 31 October to 1 November. The face-to-face talks in Gyeongju, South Korea will be the first between the two leaders during Trump’s second term in the White House.
https://www.mofcom.gov.cn/zwgk/zcfb/art/2025/art_79646f0161564975a938fe00fee158d5.html
