US Government Plans to Expand Restrictions on China’s High-End Chips and AI
By Yihu, Reporter for Llais Gobaith, Hydref 12, 2023
The United States government is set to announce new and expanded restrictions on China’s export of high-end chips and chip manufacturing equipment. Additionally, there are further restrictions on artificial intelligence (AI) chips currently under final review. These measures aim to curb China’s technological and military advancements in order to protect US national security.
According to Reuters’ recent report, US officials have warned the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) about strengthening chip restrictions introduced on October 7 last year. Sources indicate that the US intends to close loopholes and impose stricter regulations based on the previous rules. The ultimate goal is to hinder China’s progress in these areas.
On October 10, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released information stating that assessment documents on high-end chips, advanced integrated circuits (ICs), and supercomputers have been received and are currently being reviewed. This signifies that the new restrictions are nearing the final stage of the review process, and an official announcement from the White House is expected soon.
However, the US Department of Commerce, responsible for formulating these restrictions, has declined to provide comments regarding the news.
Meanwhile, on July 23 of this year, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry implemented a provincial decree to amend the “Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act,” which categorizes 23 products, including advanced semiconductor manufacturing equipment, as export-controlled items. Although no specific country or region was mentioned, experts believe that Japan’s move is primarily aimed at preventing China from utilizing such equipment for military purposes, resulting in stricter regulations on exporting advanced semiconductor products to China.
In addition, the Dutch government has issued a restriction order to ASML, the world’s leading manufacturer of semiconductor lithography machines, prohibiting the sale of machines used in the production of specific advanced chips to China.
These actions taken by Japan and the Netherlands align with the United States’ strategy to tighten restrictions on Chinese chips and exclude China from the global semiconductor supply chain.
According to a recent report by Reuters, US officials warned the CCP that it would strengthen the chip restrictions announced on October 7 last year. Sources also revealed that the US will add restrictions and prevent loopholes based on the rules announced last year. The purpose of issuing the rules is to slow China’s technological and military progress to protect US national security.
According to information released on the official website of the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on the 10th, the White House has received assessment documents that include restrictions on high-end chips, advanced integrated circuits (ICs) and supercomputers, and he has started to review them.
OMB said issuing an announcement is an established White House procedure, meaning the new restrictions are reaching the final review stage, and the White House may make a formal announcement in the short term.
However, the US Department of Commerce, which is responsible for drawing up restrictions, declined to comment on the news.
On July 23 this year, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry began implementing the provincial decree on revising the “Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act”, including 23 products including advanced semiconductor manufacturing equipment, which are included in the export control. targets. Although no specific country or region was named, outside analysts believe that Japan’s move is intended to prevent China from using it for military purposes, and the threshold for exporting advanced semiconductor products to China has become higher.
In addition, the Dutch government has also issued a restriction order to ASML, the world’s leading manufacturer of semiconductor lithography machines, which prohibits the sale of machines used to produce certain types of advanced chips to China.
According to external analysis, it can be seen from the above actions that Japan and the Netherlands are keeping pace with the United States, tightening restrictions on Chinese chips, and striving to exclude China from the semiconductor supply chain .
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