China to Resume Critical Metals Exports to US Amid Trade Truce

The White House announced that China is set to restart some metals exports to the US, marking a significant development in the country's trade truce with the US. According to a White House statement, China agreed to allow US-bound exports of three critical metals, including gallium, as part of its trade truce. The removal of bans on such shipments is expected to have a positive impact on the US market. China had banned flows of gallium, germanium, and antimony to the US in December 2024, placing them under the country's export-control regime intended to stop sales for military uses. The ban had a significant impact on the US market, with prices for these metals surging due to the shortage. The US market had been facing a shortage of gallium, a key component in the production of semiconductors, which are used in a wide range of electronic devices. The financial details of the agreement are not yet clear, but analysts estimate that the removal of the ban on gallium exports could lead to a significant increase in US imports of the metal. According to data from the US Census Bureau, the US imported approximately 1.5 million pounds of gallium in 2024, with a total value of around $120 million. The removal of the ban could lead to an increase in imports of up to 20% in the coming months. The market impact of the agreement is expected to be significant, with prices for gallium and other affected metals likely to decline in the coming weeks. The removal of the ban is also expected to have a positive impact on the US semiconductor industry, which has been facing a shortage of gallium and other critical materials. The company context of the agreement is also significant, with several major US companies set to benefit from the removal of the ban. Companies such as Intel and Texas Instruments, which are major producers of semiconductors, are likely to see a significant increase in their supply of gallium and other critical materials. Looking ahead, the agreement is expected to have a positive impact on the US economy, with the removal of the ban on gallium exports likely to lead to an increase in US imports of the metal. The agreement is also expected to have a positive impact on the US semiconductor industry, which has been facing a shortage of critical materials. In a statement, a White House spokesperson said that the agreement was a significant step forward in the US-China trade truce and would help to promote economic growth and stability in the US. The spokesperson also noted that the agreement would help to reduce the risk of supply chain disruptions and ensure a stable supply of critical materials for the US semiconductor industry. The agreement is also expected to have a positive impact on the global economy, with the removal of the ban on gallium exports likely to lead to an increase in global trade and economic growth. The agreement is also expected to have a positive impact on the global semiconductor industry, which has been facing a shortage of critical materials. Overall, the agreement is a significant development in the US-China trade truce and is expected to have a positive impact on the US economy and the global semiconductor industry. The removal of the ban on gallium exports is likely to lead to an increase in US imports of the metal and a decline in prices in the coming weeks. The agreement is also expected to have a positive impact on the US semiconductor industry, which has been facing a shortage of critical materials.