US Government Expected to Expand Regulations on Semiconductor Equipment Exports to China

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Seoyul] The Biden administration in the U.S. is expected to expand semiconductor equipment export restrictions to China next month.

According to major foreign media on the 11th (local time), the U.S. Department of Commerce plans to announce new export regulations that prohibit the export of semiconductor manufacturing equipment produced in the U.S. to factories in China producing advanced semiconductors with processes of 14 nanometers (nm; one billionth of a meter) or less without a license.

Earlier this year, the Department of Commerce sent official letters to three U.S. semiconductor equipment companies?KLA, Lam Research, and Applied Materials?regarding related measures. Last month, it also restricted the export of AI semiconductors to Nvidia and AMD without a license, and major foreign media report that this may be included in the new regulations.

This is interpreted as the U.S. government’s intention to expand export restrictions on high-performance AI semiconductors and semiconductor manufacturing equipment from specific companies to the entire industry.

A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Commerce declined to answer detailed questions about the regulations on the 9th but stated, "We are taking a comprehensive approach for additional measures" and that it is "to protect the national security and foreign policy interests of the United States."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.