Metals Crucial to Clean Energy Are Getting Caught Up in the US–China Trade War

Gallium and germanium are rare metals that are indispensable to modern life.

China banned exports of both metals to the United States in December .

Several companies operating in the US and Canada are considering expanding production of the rare metals to meet US demand.

The market for both metals is small—and it’s dominated by China , the US Geological Survey says.

China has made co-extracting gallium and germanium a priority in its trade war with the U.S. The US produces no virgin gallium, only a small amount of the rare metals, while consuming approximately 50 tons a year of the two metals combined.

Neo ’s facility in Ontario stands ready to double its production of gallium.

Teck Resources in British Columbia is already a leading producer of Germanium outside of China .

Nyrstar operates a zinc processing facility in Clarksville , Tennessee , that produces wastes containing gallium and germanium.

The Netherlands -headquartered company is planning to build a new, $150-million facility in 2023 .

The price of gallium is now “almost double” what it is within China ’s borders, experts say.