Hong Kong/Tokyo
Act Daily News
—
Japan will prohibit the abroad sale of chip manufacturing gear, becoming a member of the United States and the Netherlands in curbing the export of key know-how to China.
The nation introduced Friday it will tighten exports of 23 kinds of superior semiconductor manufacturing gear.
The guidelines will take impact in July, in keeping with Japan’s minister of financial system, commerce and business, Yasutoshi Nishimura.
The ministry mentioned it will require stricter procedures to export to about 160 locations similar to China, whereas 42 territories — together with the United States, South Korea and Taiwan — are acknowledged by Japan as having enough export controls in place.
All exports to international locations not formally acknowledged will now require approval from the Japanese commerce ministry, it added.
At a press convention, Nishimura mentioned the brand new measures have been geared toward stopping the gear from being diverted for army use.
“We will fulfill our responsibilities in the international community as a technology-owning country and contribute to maintaining international peace and security,” he instructed reporters.
The restrictions are usually not geared toward a selected nation, the commerce ministry instructed Act Daily News on Friday.
But they comply with a collection of curbs enacted in current months to clamp down on gross sales of chipmaking gear to China as a part of a coordinated worldwide effort led by Washington.
In October, the United States banned Chinese corporations from shopping for superior chips and chipmaking gear and not using a license. It additionally restricted the flexibility of American residents to supply assist for the event or manufacturing of chips at sure services in China.
Earlier this month, the Netherlands additionally unveiled new restrictions on abroad gross sales of semiconductor know-how, citing the necessity to defend nationwide safety.
Japan has been concerned in three-way discussions with each international locations, a supply acquainted with the talks beforehand instructed Act Daily News.
China has strongly criticized restrictions on tech exports, saying earlier this month that it “firmly opposes” such measures.
Mao Ning, a Chinese overseas ministry spokesperson, additionally hit again on the newest transfer from Japan.
“Weaponizing economic, trade and technology issues to deliberately destabilize the global industry chain will only harm others and harm oneself,” she mentioned at a Friday news briefing.
Japan is dwelling to a number of chipmaking gear producers, together with Nikon
(NINOY) and Tokyo Electron. The corporations’ shares in Tokyo have been little modified on Friday.
Nikon and Tokyo Electron declined to remark.
In current studies to purchasers, Jefferies analysts had assessed the potential penalties of Japanese export controls to China, noting that Nikon did “not anticipate a major impact.”
For Tokyo Electron, the tightening can also be “unlikely to have much additional impact as long as they do not go further than the US sanctions,” they added.
— Mengchen Zhang contributed to this report.
Source: www.cnn.com