China's New EV Tech Export Rules: What's the Big Deal?

China's planning to tighten exports on tech used in electric vehicles (EVs). They want to control the sale of equipment needed to make key minerals like lithium and gallium. This move comes as a response to the US placing restrictions on semiconductor exports. The goal? To keep a grip on the global EV market. China's already a big player in materials like gallium, used in phone chips, and lithium, used in EV batteries. With the world's EV demand set to rise, any restrictions on lithium tech could have a big impact. The Commerce Ministry wants to hear what folks think about adding battery cathode technology to the export control list too. A month ago, China banned exporting materials like gallium and germanium to the US after the Biden admin imposed new rules. Analysts say this new plan could help China keep its stronghold on global lithium processing. It's part of a larger tech competition between Washington and Beijing. In other news, China's added some big US defense companies like Lockheed Martin to its export control list. This list, started in November, is similar to the US's "Entity List. "