China Tightens Pressure on Japan With Dual-Use Export Ban and Chip-Chemical Dumping Probe

Overview

• China’s commerce ministry imposed immediate controls halting exports of dual-use items to Japan when destined for military users or purposes that enhance Japanese military capability.
• Japan lodged a formal protest within hours, with foreign ministry official Masaaki Kanai demanding withdrawal of the measures in a complaint delivered to Chinese diplomat Shi Yong.
• Beijing opened an antidumping investigation into dichlorosilane from Japan, a gas used to deposit thin films in semiconductor production, following a petition by Tangshan Sanfu Electronic Materials.
• The dumping probe will review pricing between July 2024 and June 2025 and assess industry injury from January 2022 to June 2025 under China’s antidumping rules.
• The scope of restricted goods remains unclear, driving concern that rare-earth supplies could be affected, even as Chinese customs data through November 2025 show no decline in shipments to Japan and officials have not specified impacts on civilian tech or automakers.