Increased Scrutiny on Semiconductor Companies Amid Export Restrictions
A growing number of technology firms involved in semiconductor manufacturing are facing heightened scrutiny from lawmakers on Capitol Hill. This comes as the United States government considers implementing further export restrictions aimed at curbing China’s technological advancements. The House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, which has been actively investigating various U.S. companies for their connections to China, dispatched letters on Thursday to several firms that produce semiconductor manufacturing equipment.
The committee expressed serious concerns regarding technology sales to China and has requested comprehensive information about the companies’ sales volumes and their primary customers. The intent behind this inquiry is to gain a clearer understanding of the extent to which chip-making technology is being transferred to China, and the implications this has for bolstering China’s semiconductor manufacturing capabilities.
The letters were addressed to five prominent firms that play a pivotal role in the global semiconductor manufacturing equipment market. These include:
- Applied Materials
- Lam Research
- KLA
- Tokyo Electron (a Japanese company)
- ASML (a Dutch equipment manufacturer)
These five companies are recognized as leaders in the field, providing some of the most advanced technology necessary for chip makers to fabricate semiconductors featuring dimensions as minuscule as just a few atoms wide. The letters were co-signed by Representative John Moolenaar, a Republican from Michigan and the chairman of the committee, alongside Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Democrat from Illinois who serves as the ranking member.
