Semiconductors, which power everything from mobile phones to military hardware, are at the centre of a bitter dispute between the world’s two largest economies. In October, Washington announced that it would require licences for companies exporting chips to China using US tools or software, no matter where they are made in the world. From next month, special licenses will be needed to export gallium and germanium from China, which is the world’s biggest producer of the metals. It comes after Washington’s efforts to curb Chinese access to some advanced microprocessors. Do you support a multipolar world ?