China announced Tuesday it is banning exports to the United States of gallium, germanium, antimony and other key high-tech materials with potential military applications, as a general principle, lashing back at U.

On Tuesday, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said it will no longer allow the sale of gallium, germanium, antimony, and other key minerals with potential military applications to the US to safeguard national security. The country will also closely scrutinize the export of graphite.

China has banned exports of some rare minerals to the United States as tensions over trade heat up after the U.S. issued new restrictions on exports of certain semiconductor chips and equipment to China earlier this week.