The United States is asking South Korea to impose restrictions on the export of semiconductor technologies to China, similar to those already imposed by the United States. Bloomberg reports, UNN reports.
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U.S. officials are proposing that South Korea tighten restrictions on the flow of equipment and advanced semiconductor technologies for chip manufacturing to China. This applies to the production of high-quality logic and memory chips.
The export restrictions should be similar to those already imposed by the United States. Bloomberg writes that the move is part of Washington's efforts to hinder the development of the Chinese semiconductor industry for national security reasons.
The potential restrictions are aimed at including logic chips with a process technology of more than 14 nanometers and a type of memory known as DRAM with a process technology of more than 18 nanometers. This would be consistent with a set of restrictions that the US Department of Commerce first announced in 2022, the article adds.
U.S. officials and the government of South Korean President Yun Seok-yeol discussed these issues in March. The U.S. intends to reach an agreement before the G7 summit in mid-June, but the Asian country is mulling over the idea as China remains an important trading partner.
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Earlier this month, the US had already called on its allies, including the Netherlands, Germany, Japan, South Korea and the Netherlands, to further strengthen exports of semiconductor equipment, parts and chemicals for chip production to China.
However, this schedule may be disrupted, as officials from South Korea, Japan, and the United States are set to meet in late June to discuss cooperation in advanced technology and supply chains.
China notes that the restrictions create additional obstacles to trade and greater uncertainty in the chip manufacturing industry.
South Korea is concerned about potential sanctions that China may impose in response to export controls, as several technology companies, including Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, still operate in China, Seoul's largest trading partner.