China hopes it’s found its leverage in the tech war with Washington. The country holds a dominant position in the processing of critical minerals like gallium and lithium. Chinese companies like battery giant CATL have also emerged as key suppliers to automakers around the world.

China's Ministry of Commerce is taking comment on a plan that would extend export restrictions to technology tied to the production of electric vehicle

Beijing proposes including battery cathode material preparation technology to its catalog of applications that are subject to export bans or restrictions.