China’s export restrictions spark global panic in AI development

China has announced its intention to impose export controls on metals primarily used in the production of semiconductors for artificial intelligence (AI) systems. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce, in collaboration with the General Administration of Customs, released a joint statement on July 3, citing national security concerns as the motive behind these controls. The new regulations stipulate that a government-issued license will be required for the export of specific gallium and germanium products, with the controls set to take effect from August 1.

The export controls specifically target eight gallium-related products, including gallium antimonide, gallium arsenide, gallium metal, gallium nitride, gallium oxide, gallium phosphide, gallium selenide, and indium gallium arsenide. Additionally, six germanium products are covered, namely germanium dioxide, germanium epitaxial growth substrate, germanium ingot, germanium metal, germanium tetrachloride, and zinc germanium phosphide.

Gallium, a metal commonly used in electronics, finds extensive applications in semiconductors, transistors, lasers, and LEDs. Germanium is also essential in semiconductor manufacturing, as well as in solid-state electronics and fiber optic systems.

China restrictions

According to the statement, individuals exporting these products without proper authorization or in excess of the specified limits will face penalties. Notably, a 2023 report by the European Commission and the European Association of Critical Raw Materials Alliance (CRMA) reveals that China remains highly dominant in the global supply of germanium. Furthermore, over 80% of the world’s gallium is sourced from China, as reported by the CRMA.

This latest development comes in the wake of sanctions imposed by the United States in October 2022, which restricted Chinese developers’ access to advanced semiconductors, including Nvidia’s A100 chips and the latest H100 version. Although Nvidia’s A800 and H800 chips are currently available in the Chinese market, they are limited in terms of technology and can only support small-scale AI models. Consequently, Chinese companies have been actively seeking alternatives to overcome this lack of access.

Furthermore, US officials are reportedly considering additional restrictions on the exports of high-level AI chips to reinforce the existing limitations. Nvidia, a prominent semiconductor developer, has experienced a surge in chip value since the rise of AI.