ISTANBUL 

Citing national security concerns, China on Friday imposed restrictions on exports of what it called “highly sensitive” graphite products.

The export controls on three types of graphite products, including spherical graphite, will take effect on Dec. 1, according to Chinese state media.

Such graphite products are key for manufacturing batteries for electric vehicles, an increasingly important sector of automobile sales as countries work to cut greenhouse emissions.

Beijing’s move comes days after the US imposed fresh restrictions on exports of high-tech microchips.