US chipmaking industry pushes back on proposed changes affecting semiconductor exports to China
- The proposed changes to US export controls impact the sale of certain semiconductors and other technology to China
- Industry groups say they may ‘result in significant impacts to the semiconductor industry, its global supply chain, and the broader technology sector’
In a letter sent on Monday, nine groups urged US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross to allow public comment before putting the rules into effect to avoid unintended consequences.
The changes may “result in significant impacts to the semiconductor industry, its global supply chain, and the broader technology sector,” said the letter, signed by the Semiconductor Industry Association and the National Foreign Trade Council, SEMI, and six other groups.
Noting the public health crisis, it added: “Semiconductors drive the functionality in advanced medical equipment used by health professionals to treat the public,” and enable telework.
Reuters reported last week that senior US officials agreed on new ways to control hi-tech exports to China. The changes are aimed at preventing China from obtaining advanced US technology for commercial purposes and diverting it to military use, sources told Reuters.
The previous week, Reuters also reported that the officials agreed to require foreign companies that use US chipmaking equipment to obtain licenses before supplying certain chips to China’s Huawei Technologies.