[우크라 침공] U.S. and China pressure on semiconductors… “Export to Russia may be closed”

US Commerce Secretary Gina Lamondo raised the level of warning on the 8th (local time) that Chinese companies would close their doors if they continue to export semiconductors to Russia.

In an interview with the New York Times on the same day, Lamondo told the New York Times that Chinese companies that do not join the sanctions ban on semiconductors and high-tech exports to Russia could be shut down.

In particular, Minister Lamondo mentioned SMIC (中芯國際, Zhongxin Guoji), the largest Chinese foundry (semiconductor consignment production) company, and said that if these Chinese companies do not participate in sanctions, the US could block the supply of equipment and software.

“If it is confirmed that companies like SMIC are selling semiconductors to Russia, the US could ban SMIC from using US equipment and software, causing them to shut down their business,” he said.

He added, “If we continue to do business with Russia, China’s semiconductor manufacturing capacity will be severely affected.”

The United States applied the Foreign Direct Product Rule (FDPR) to Russia for its invasion of Ukraine as part of sanctions.

FDPR is a sanction clause that prohibits the export of products made by foreign companies if they use domestic software and technology that the US controls.

According to the New York Times, restrictions on exports to Russia will also be applied to many Chinese companies operating with US-made technology and software.

In 2020, the U.S. used this regulation to prevent Huawei from receiving semiconductor supplies from foreign semiconductor companies such as Taiwanese TSMC in order to inflict a fatal blow to Chinese company Huawei amid the US-China conflict.

As such, when the US proposed FDPR, there are also observations that Chinese semiconductors and technologies have fallen into a dilemma between the Chinese authorities’ position and the policy of Western sanctions.

Participation in US-led sanctions banning the export of high-tech products to Russia would go against the official position of the Chinese government against the sanctions, and failure to comply with the sanctions could result in disadvantages, like Minister Ramondo’s warning. .

Currently, smartphone makers such as Apple and Samsung Electronics, and computer makers such as HP and Dell have stopped selling their products in the Russian market after these sanctions were announced.

However, the Wall Street Journal reported on the 7th that China’s major tech companies are showing no signs of joining the ranks of Russia’s withdrawal.

Chinese companies have built deep ties with Russia for decades and are strongly influenced by the Chinese government, which opposes sanctions from the US and others, the WSJ noted.

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