Germany rebuffs report it is pursuing chemical export control to China
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A spokesperson for German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Friday that the country is not currently pursuing any export controls on chemicals used in the manufacturing of semiconductors, rebuffing an earlier report.
The comments, obtained by Reuters, are in stark contrast to a Bloomberg report issued on Thursday that suggested Scholz was looking at controlling chemicals used to make semiconductors and thus impacting China's domestic chip production.
A second German government spokesperson, who represented the economic ministry, said at a Friday media briefing they were also not aware of any chemical export ban nor any related plans for the use of dual-use regulations.
The Bloomberg report suggested that if Germany were to make a move to limit the export of chemicals used for chip making, it would arise from Germany's national dual-use list, used to prevent items being used for military purposes and in chemical, biological and nuclear weapons.
Germany, which has its own semiconductor industry, also is home to BASF (OTCQX:BASFY) and Merck KGaA (OTCPK:MKKGY), both of which supply chemicals used to manufacture processors. 
Germany is in talks with Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) to provide additional subsidies for the semiconductor giant's manufacturing plant in Magdeburg.
Earlier this month, Europe finalized its own Chips Act in an effort to boost manufacturing capabilities on the continent to reduce its reliance on the U.S. and Asia, as Asia accounts for the vast majority of chip production.
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