China's Supreme People's Court upheld a ban on Infineon Technologies selling GaN products, following a patent dispute with domestic rival Innoscience. The ruling caused Chinese semiconductor stocks to surge.
China develops gallium-based chips for 6G communications and commercial space programs
Chinese scientists suggest coal waste could be a significant source of critical metals, leveraging existing industrial infrastructure. However, challenges remain due to fluctuating coal quality affecting metal content in fly ash.
China has significantly reduced exports of rare earths and gallium to Japan since December, impacting Japanese manufacturers reliant on these critical materials for magnets, aerospace, and chip production. This move follows diplomatic tensions over Taiwan and mirrors previous export restrictions China imposed on the US.
The EU is planning its first joint stockpile of critical minerals like tungsten, rare earths, and gallium to reduce dependence on China. Major ports like Rotterdam are being considered for storage. This move aims to insulate the EU economy from China's production dominance and leverage in trade disputes.
