U.S. Blacklists 136 Chinese Firms, Including Naura, in Crackdown on AI Chip Technology

Dec 2, 2024, 12:42 PM

The United States is set to launch new export restrictions targeting China's semiconductor industry, marking the third crackdown in three years. The Biden administration plans to impose export controls on 140 Chinese companies, adding 136 entities—including major firms like Naura Technology Group, Piotech, and Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC)—to the Entity List. The new rules aim to tighten China's access to advanced chip-making equipment and high-bandwidth memory chips essential for artificial intelligence applications. Equipment manufactured in Malaysia, Singapore, Israel, Taiwan, and South Korea will be subject to the new rules, while the Netherlands and Japan are exempt. The U.S. Department of Commerce's measures are designed to slow Beijing's development of AI technologies with potential military applications. In response, China's Ministry of Commerce condemned the actions as economic coercion and a violation of market principles and fair competition, vowing to take necessary measures to firmly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies.