US Expands China Chip Ban, Weighs Blacklisting of Top Chinese Chipmaker

Alex WuAugust 6, 2022

The United States has expanded its ban of exports to China of equipment that can make semiconductors up to 14 nanometers in size, and is considering plans to restrict NAND flash memory chip exports as well as blacklist a major Chinese memory chip maker, as China’s ruling communist party continues its aggressive posturing toward other governments in its region.

Previously, the United States had banned the sale of equipment that can produce chips of 10 nm or smaller to Chinese chip manufacturers, as part of its efforts to contain the Chinese communist regime’s efforts to expand its influence networks through technology and continued economic expansion. Since late July, the ban has been expanded to 14 nm chips, according to major U.S. chips making equipment suppliers, such as Lam Research Corp., that have been notified by the government about the expanded restrictions.

The development follows a historic $52 billion bill passed by U.S. congress on July 27 to aid domestic chip makers in research, development, and production volume. It is worth noting that one of the conditions is that the companies that receive funds will not increase advanced chip productions in mainland China.

The expanded restrictions will also affect the production plants run by other countries’ chip manufacturers that are contracted to operate in mainland China, such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC).

Employees make chips at a factory of Jiejie Semiconductor Company in Nantong, in eastern China’s Jiangsu Province, on March 17, 2021. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

The U.S. Department of Commerce said in a statement that the tightening of policies is to impair “PRC efforts to manufacture advanced semiconductors to address significant national security risks to the United States.”

Meanwhile, it’s reported that the United States is planning to ban the exports of U.S. chipmaking equipment that produces advanced NAND