U.S. restricts tech exports to China’s biggest semiconductor manufacturer in escalation of trade tensions - The Washington Post

technology exports to China’s biggest semiconductor manufacturer, warning that the exports could benefit the Chinese military.

companies that they will now need a license to export certain technology to Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp., or SMIC, according to a copy of the agency’s letter reviewed by The Washington Post.

The Commerce Department “has determined that exports to SMIC or its subsidiaries, including those listed above, may pose an unacceptable risk of diversion to a military end use in the People’s Republic of China pending the U.S.

government’s review of SMIC and its subsidiaries,” said the letter, which was reported earlier by the Financial Times and the Wall Street Journal.

SOS also said Chinese military researchers have disclosed in research papers using SMIC technology to manufacture chips.

tech exports has become a favorite Trump administration tool to counter China’s rise as a technology and military power and to punish Chinese entities for alleged human rights abuses.