Japan has made formal progress with its restrictions intended to restrict China’s access to cutting-edge chip manufacturing equipment. According to CNN, the nation stated Friday that it would tighten export controls on 23 different types of machinery used in the manufacturing of semiconductors. If they want to sell their tools in more than 160 countries after the new regulations go into force in July, businesses like Nikon and Tokyo Electron will need to get approval from Japan’s trade ministry. The limitations aren’t intended to single out any particular country, a spokesperson for the Japanese government told CNN. On the limited list, though, is Japan’s eastern Asian rival. “We will uphold our obligations to the international community as a nation that owns technology and contribute to preserving global peace and security,” Minister of Japan Yasutoshi Nishimura.
According to Japan’s Economy, Trade, and Industry Minister. The restrictions come after the United States and the Netherlands enacted identical export controls. The three nations allegedly reached an agreement at the start of the year to limit China’s access to Western-made lithography machines. In March, the Netherlands followed through on the agreement, stating that it would limit overseas sales of semiconductor technology in the interest of national security. These constraints will have an impact on ASML.
As of last year, the Dutch company was the only one in the world making the extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUV) machines required by chipmakers to create the 5nm and 3nm semiconductors that power today’s phones and computers. The lack of access to western-made lithography equipment will cause a gap in China’s tech sector that can be partially filled by domestic companies. Before those businesses can equal the capacity of their American, Japanese, and European competitors, though, it might take some time. Shanghai Micro Electronics Equipment (SMEE), the sole manufacturer of lithography equipment in China, manufactures machines that can print semiconductors with a 90nm node, according to data from Reuters. The efforts of SMIC, the top semiconductor maker in the nation, are more encouraging. Without having access to machinery manufactured abroad, it started making 7nm chips last summer and started producing 14nm chips in volume.
The lack of access to western-made lithography equipment will cause a gap in China’s tech sector that can be partially filled by domestic companies. Before those businesses can equal the capacity of their American, Japanese, and European competitors, though, it might take some time. Shanghai Micro Electronics Equipment (SMEE), the sole manufacturer of lithography equipment in China, manufactures machines that can print semiconductors with a 90nm node, according to data from Reuters. The efforts of SMIC, the top semiconductor maker in the nation, are more encouraging. Without having access to machinery manufactured abroad, it started making 7nm chips last summer and started producing 14nm chips in volume.
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