The move has been justified as a decision by the Chinese government to "protect national security and interests", but experts have interpreted it as a retaliation measure against restrictions on the exportation of US and European semiconductor technology to China. 

The eight gallium and six germanium products affected by the curbs are widely used in the production of semiconductors, electric vehicles and military equipment, and could cause a disruption to global supply chains.

The export controls will begin on 1 August, China’s Ministry of Commerce said in a statement. From that date on, exporters of gallium and germanium will be required to apply for “special permission from the state” to ship them out of China, the government added. 

China is currently the biggest producer of gallium and one of the world's largest producers of germanium, both materials that have been placed on the European Union’s list of critical raw materials, which...