US blacklists 140 Chinese tech companies

The latest US effort to thwart Beijing’s chipmaking ambitions, Washington’s move affects Chinese chipmakers such as Piotech, ACM Research and SiCarrier Technology. It also targets shipments of advanced memory chips and many chipmaking tools to China.

The move is one of the last large-scale efforts by US President Joe Biden to block China's access to and production of chips for developing artificial intelligence for military purposes.

The US imposes restrictions on China's chip industry. (Photo: Reuters)

The move comes just over a month after President-elect Donald Trump was sworn in. The package includes restrictions on exports to China of high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips, which are critical for high-end applications like AI training; restrictions on exports of 24 chipmaking tools and three other software tools; and restrictions on exports of chipmaking equipment made in countries like Singapore and Malaysia.

US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said the move was aimed at preventing "China from advancing its domestic semiconductor manufacturing system, which is used to support its military modernization."

These controls could hurt many American companies such as Lam Research, KLA and Applied Materials, as well as foreign companies such as Dutch equipment maker ASM International.

In addition, Chinese companies facing new restrictions include nearly 20 semiconductor companies, two investment firms and more than 100 chip tool makers, along with Swaysure Technology Co, Si'En Qingdao and Shenzhen Pensun Technology Co, which work with China's Huawei Technologies. The top telecommunications equipment maker is hampered by US sanctions and is at the heart of China's advanced chip development and manufacturing.

These companies will be added to a restricted list, prohibiting US suppliers from shipping to them without prior special licenses.

Asked about the restrictions, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said the US actions undermined the international economic trade order and disrupted the global supply chain. China will take more measures to protect the rights and interests of domestic companies.

China's Commerce Ministry also described the new restrictions as a clear example of “economic coercion” and “non-market practices.”

Kong Anh (Source: Al Jazeera)

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