Japan Announce New Plans for Export Controls on Semiconductor

Japan announced in late March this year a draft revision to a ministry ordinance on the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act to strengthen export controls on 23 items of chipmaking equipment, in an effort to work with the U.S. to prevent outflows of technologies to China and their diversion to improving its military arsenal.

 

Chinese Attitude

On May 23, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Commerce responded to reporters' questions about this matter and said that the Japanese government officially issued export control measures targeting 23 types of semiconductor manufacturing equipment. This is an abuse of export control measures and a violation of free trade and international economic and trade rules. China firmly opposes this serious deviation.

 

During the public consultation period for Japan’s measures, Chinese industry circles submitted comments to the Japanese government one after another. Many industry associations publicly issued statements against Japan’s measures. Some Japanese industry groups and companies also expressed their uncertainty about the future in various ways. concerns. Regrettably, the measures announced by the Japanese side did not respond to the reasonable demands of the industry, which will seriously damage the interests of Chinese and Japanese companies, seriously damage the economic and trade cooperation between China and Japan, disrupt the global semiconductor industry structure, and impact the security and stability of the industrial chain and supply chain.

 

The Japanese side should continue to follow international economic and trade rules and China-Japan economic and trade cooperation, immediately correct its wrongdoings, avoid relevant measures that impede normal cooperation and development of the two countries' semiconductor industries, and effectively maintain the stability of the global semiconductor industry chain and supply chain. China will maintain the right to take firm actions to protect its lawful rights and interests.