U.S. Expands Semiconductor Export Controls, Targets China and Allies

On December 12, 2023, Alan Estevez, the U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security, gave a keynote speech at a U.S.-Korea Economic Security Conference in Washington, D.C. The conference was co-hosted by the Korean Strategic Materials Management Agency (KOSTI), the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS), and the Strategic Trade Research Institute (STRI).

It has been revealed that the United States is expanding its semiconductor export control system against China, including the semiconductor manufacturing equipment powerhouses of the Netherlands, Japan, and South Korea. The scope is broadening to include equipment, services, and components.

On the 21st (local time), Alan Estevez, the U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security, revealed at a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing that the United States is trying to convince allies to introduce semiconductor export controls similar to those of the United States to achieve parity between U.S. companies and companies in partnership.

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Estevez, who oversees the U.S. administration’s semiconductor export control against China, disclosed that they are blocking exports to China not only of semiconductor equipment but also services and components for existing equipment.

Estevez mentioned that the Netherlands and Japan have introduced semiconductor equipment export controls, and they are looking into the issue of equipment services exported to China. The component export control system includes other countries.

In fact, in written materials submitted to the Foreign Affairs Committee, Deputy Secretary Estevez positively evaluated Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix’s decision not to sell used semiconductor equipment to China.