China’s new export restrictions on lithium-ion batteries and related materials are raising concerns across the global clean energy and smart infrastructure sectors. The updated rules, taking effect on 8 November 2025, will require government licenses for the export of advanced battery components such as cathodes and graphite anodes, potentially disrupting supply to foreign manufacturers.
The move — widely seen as part of Beijing’s broader strategy in trade negotiations with the United States — mirrors earlier export controls on rare earth elements. It also highlights China’s growing leverage over critical technologies essential to renewable energy, electric vehicles, and energy storage systems that power smart cities.
Experts warn that the restrictions could slow the deployment of renewable infrastructure, increase material costs, and complicate the transition to localized production. With the U.S. expanding wind and solar capacity, the reliance on Chinese supply chains remains a strategic vulnerability — and a reminder that sustainability now depends as much on supply chain resilience as on innovation.
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