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US-China tech war
TechTech War

Exclusive | Tech war: China’s top chip equipment maker removes US employees from product development after Washington imposes restrictions

  • Beijing-based Naura Technology has asked its US engineers to stop working on R&D projects with immediate effect, source says
  • Washington has restricted the involvement of US citizens from supporting the development or production of chips at certain China-based chip making facilities without a licence

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The US has imposed restrictions in a bid to slow China’s chip-making abilities. Photo: Bloomberg
Che Panin Beijing
China’s top semiconductor equipment maker Naura Technology Group has told its American employees in China to stop taking part in component and machinery development to comply with Washington’s restrictions on the involvement of US citizens in key facilities on the mainland, according to a source briefed on the decision.

In an internal notice, the Beijing-based company asked its American engineers to stop working on research and development projects with immediate effect, the source said.

The notice was issued after the US Bureau of Industry and Security regulation restricted the “ability of US persons to support the development or production” of chips at certain China-located semiconductor fabrication facilities without a licence.

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Shenzhen-listed Naura Technology did not immediately reply to a request for comment on Thursday morning.

Yangtze Memory Technologies has seen US firms withdraw staff from its China facilities. Photo: Shutterstock
Yangtze Memory Technologies has seen US firms withdraw staff from its China facilities. Photo: Shutterstock

The latest restriction on US citizens’ involvement in chip development in China is part of a sweeping regulation launched by Washington, which includes strict and extensive export controls, to slow down China’s semiconductor industry.

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US chip equipment suppliers are pulling out their US staff from Chinese facilities, including the country’s top memory chip maker Yangtze Memory Technologies, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing sources.
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