WASHINGTON, November 14, Reuters A Senate investigation on Tuesday revealed that, in spite of a slew of new export restrictions meant to impede advancements in the nation’s semiconductor industry, Chinese businesses are acquiring American chipmaking equipment in order to produce sophisticated semiconductors.
The Biden administration’s October 2022 export curbs aim to prevent Chinese chipmakers from obtaining U.S. chipmaking tools if they would be used to manufacture advanced chips at the 14 nanometer node or below. The bipartisan select committee on China of the House of Representatives released a 741-page annual report criticizing the administration’s policy.
Utilizing the 14 nanometer limitation limit, the Commerce Department states that “importers are frequently able to purchase the equipment if they claim it is being used on an older production line, and with limited capacity.”