Dec. 3 (UPI) — The United States has announced new rules banning the export of semiconductor technology to China, as the Biden administration continues measures aimed at limiting China’s ability to produce advanced weapons and artificial intelligence systems.
President Joe Biden’s administration has repeatedly tightened export controls to China, viewing semiconductor technology in the Chinese government’s hands as a national security risk.
The measures, announced Monday by the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security, include a ban on imports of 20 types of semiconductor manufacturing equipment and three related software tools into China. New controls also affect high-band memory export.
An additional 140 Chinese companies were added to the ministry’s entity list and are subject to licensing requirements for export. The new Chinese tool makers, semiconductor factories and investment companies are involved in the Chinese government’s military modernization drive, the ministry said.
Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said in a statement that the new measures are a targeted approach that “undermines China’s ability to domestically produce advanced technologies that pose national security risks.”
People’s Republic of China is the official name of China.
“Further tightening export controls underscores the Department of Commerce’s central role in implementing America’s broader national security strategy,” he said.
The measure takes effect immediately, but the compliance date for some regulations will be pushed back to December 31st.
The Biden administration is putting both domestic production and national security at the forefront of efforts to control semiconductor technology whose supply has been severely disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic.
Amid the shortage, Biden signed the Chips and Science Act to strengthen U.S. supply chains for future challenges and boost domestic manufacturing, while strengthening national security and defense.
The regulations announced Monday continue regulations the Biden administration issued in October 2022 and October 2023, which prohibit U.S. companies receiving CHIPS funding from building advanced technology facilities in China. has also been banned for at least 10 years.
“The United States has taken significant steps to prevent our adversaries from using our technology in ways that threaten our national security,” National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said in a statement.
“As technology evolves and our adversaries seek new ways to circumvent restrictions, we will continue to work with our allies and partners to ensure that world-leading technology and know-how undermines our national security. We will proactively and aggressively protect it from being used for any purpose.” ”
A spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Commerce criticized the United States on Monday, characterizing the new restrictions as an abuse of export controls and a form of “unilateral bullying.”
“The semiconductor industry is highly globalized, and the abuse of regulatory measures by the United States will seriously impede the normal economic and trade exchanges of all countries, seriously undermine market rules and the international economic and trade order, and undermine the stability of the world economy. “Industrial chains, supply chains,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Lin Jian told reporters at a press conference on Monday that he opposed the “overexpansion” of the U.S. definition of national security, saying the Biden administration “will maliciously deter and suppress China.” “I’m doing it,” he accused.
“This kind of conduct seriously violates the laws of market economy and the principle of fair competition, disrupts the international economic and trade order, destabilizes the world’s industrial and supply chains, and ultimately “China will take resolute measures to protect the legitimate and legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies.”
