The US and South Korea have made “historic progress” in deepening cooperation to safe essential applied sciences and tackle financial coercion, the White Home mentioned on Sunday.
This got here as South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol ready for his first state go to to america on Monday for talks with President Joe Biden, which Washington mentioned will underscore their “ironclad alliance.”
“This consists of efforts to coordinate investments within the semiconductor sector, safe essential applied sciences, and tackle financial coercion,” the U.S. Nationwide Safety Council advised the Monetary Instances.
“We anticipate the upcoming state go to to even additional strengthen cooperation on all these fronts,” it added.
The White Home made the remarks in response to a Monetary Instances report citing unnamed sources that Washington had requested South Korea to advise its chipmakers, Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, to carry again from boosting their gross sales to China if U.S. chipmaker Micron is banned from promoting chips in Beijing.
One of many sources advised that Washington’s request to South Korea demonstrates the Biden administration’s aim to forestall China from utilizing Micron “as a lever to affect or impact U.S. coverage” and thwart China’s financial coercion efforts by cooperating with its allies.
The White Home didn’t touch upon the report however mentioned the semiconductor sector was one space the place the 2 international locations had made progress in advancing their collaboration.
The Epoch Instances has reached out to Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix for remark.
China Launches Probe Into Micron
China’s cybersecurity watchdog launched a cybersecurity overview of Idaho-based Micron’s merchandise offered within the nation final month, citing the necessity to stop “community safety dangers brought on by hidden product issues” and “preserve nationwide safety.”
Micron mentioned that its enterprise continues to function as regular in China whereas the corporate was cooperating with the investigation.
Superior semiconductor chips are used to make every little thing from pickup vans to hypersonic missiles. Presently, greater than 60 % of the world’s provide of chips is produced in Taiwan, lots of them with the assistance of U.S. analysis and design.
The US final yr imposed sweeping restrictions on entry to chipmaking expertise to impede China’s technological and army advances. However Washington wants the cooperation of its allies and companions for its measures to be efficient.
Japan Tightens Chipmaking Gear Exports
Japan earlier imposed export restrictions on 23 semiconductor manufacturing gear amid an ongoing spat between america and China over chip expertise.
The export management measures will take impact in July and canopy gear for cleansing, checkups, and lithography—a key expertise in manufacturing superior semiconductors—in line with Japan’s Ministry of Economic system, Commerce and Trade (METI).
“It’s to forestall our expertise from being diverted for army use,” METI Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura advised native reporters. “We are going to fulfill our duty to the worldwide neighborhood.”
Japan mentioned that 42 international locations, together with america and Taiwan, will proceed receiving the gear underneath a simplified export measure. However China was not amongst them and will likely be topic to stricter controls.
The brand new regulation will have an effect on gear manufactured by 10 Japanese firms, together with Tokyo Electron Ltd. Nevertheless, Nishimura mentioned he anticipated minimal affect on native firms as the principles solely goal “extraordinarily superior” expertise.
Chinese language International Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning criticized Japan’s transfer, saying that “weaponizing commerce and tech points and destabilizing the worldwide industrial and provide chains profit nobody and can finally backfire.”
The Netherlands had additionally agreed to dam Beijing from getting access to chip manufacturing expertise, reminiscent of from ASML Holding NV, which dominates the marketplace for lithography methods used to create chips’ minute circuitry.
Andrew Thornebrooke and Reuters contributed to this report.
Originally posted 2023-04-24 04:52:49.