(Central News Agency) Bloomberg said today that the German government may restrict exports to China of chemicals used to make semiconductors, thereby reducing its own economic risks facing the Asian economic powerhouse.

The people familiar with the matter, cited by Bloomberg, said the discussions were still at an early stage and that officials involved in the discussions knew such measures could damage commercial relations with Beijing.

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One of the people cited by Bloomberg also said that the fastest and most practical way to impose export controls would be to include individual goods and services in Germany's national dual-use list.

A German government ministry did not immediately confirm the news, and the Chinese embassy in Berlin did not respond to a request for comment.

It would be the latest measure Germany is considering as it reassesses its relationship with China.

The coalition government of current Prime Minister Olaf Scholz is pressing its largest trading partner to open its markets more fairly, but is increasingly wary of Beijing as a strategic rival.

Merck KGaA and BASF could be affected if Germany imposes export restrictions. The two major German chemicals giants declined to comment.

Some of Germany's partner countries have taken steps to cut off certain sources of chips China needs to make.

The Dutch government last month joined the U.S. effort to curb chip exports to China, laying out plans to further curb exports of semiconductor technology to protect national security.

Semiconductor equipment makers ASM International and ASML Holding are both headquartered in the Netherlands.

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