US restrictions could hamper China’s plans for a self-reliant semiconductor sector

  • Export curbs on SMIC could deal a heavy blow to China’s pursuit of an independent semiconductor sector
  • Restrictions may also slow company’s development of advanced processing nodes

SMIC has denied having any links to the Chinese military. Photo: EPA-EFE
The latest US restrictions on Chinese firm Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) could deal a heavy blow to China’s push for a robust home-grown semiconductor industry, analysts say.
The US government moved to impose the restrictions following a review that concluded the Shanghai-based company’s chips might be used by the Chinese military. The US commerce department told SMIC’s American suppliers on Friday to apply for a licence to sell technologies to SMIC.
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