The United States government is urging its key semiconductor allies, including Japan and the Netherlands, to further tighten restrictions on China’s access to critical chip-making technology and equipment. Washington is pushing for expanded export controls that would go beyond the sweeping measures it imposed in 2022, which aimed to limit China’s ability to develop advanced semiconductors.
The U.S. is specifically calling on Japan to restrict exports of specialized chemicals like photoresist, which are essential for chip production. Additionally, the U.S. is pressing the Netherlands to halt ASML, a key supplier of chipmaking equipment, from servicing equipment that Chinese customers purchased before this year’s sales restrictions.
However, Japan and the Netherlands are hesitant to implement additional measures, as they are concerned about the potential economic and diplomatic consequences. Both countries are evaluating the impact of their existing export control policies before considering further tightening. The U.S. faces resistance from its allies, who are wary of the broader ramifications of constraining China’s access to semiconductor technology.
This renewed U.S. push to rally its partners in the semiconductor industry underscores the strategic importance it places on limiting China’s technological capabilities, particularly in the critical chip sector. The outcome of these negotiations will have significant implications for the global semiconductor supply chain and the ongoing technological competition between the U.S. and China.
Citations:
[1] https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Tech/Semiconductors/U.S.-urges-Japan-and-Netherlands-to-tighten-China-chip-tech-curbs
[2] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-03-06/us-urges-allies-to-further-squeeze-china-on-chip-technology
[3] https://pamirllc.com/blog/us-government-pushes-to-extend-chip-making-export-bans
[4] https://cionews.co.in/japan-netherlands-limit-china-to-semiconductors/
[5] https://www.reuters.com/technology/us-urges-allies-tighten-chinas-access-chip-technology-bloomberg-reports-2024-03-06/