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Biden's ban on semiconductor exports to China, explained - Vox

  

Category:  News & Politics

Via:  kavika  •  2 years ago  •  31 comments

By:   Michael Bluhm (Vox)

Biden's ban on semiconductor exports to China, explained - Vox
The ban on semiconductor exports to China is one of the most important policy moves of the year — and could set off a geopolitical quake.

S E E D E D   C O N T E N T



The ban on semiconductor exports to China is one of the most important policy moves of the year — and could set off a geopolitical quake.

By Michael Bluhm Nov 5, 2022, 8:00am EDT An employee works on the production line of semiconductors at a factory in Huai'an, China, on September 27.VCG/VCG via Getty Images

One month ago, the US Commerce Department issued an exceptionally broad set of prohibitions on exports to China of semiconductor chips and other high-tech equipment.

The very technical nature of the export controls might obscure just how consequential this new policy could be — perhaps among the most important of this administration.

The new rules appear to mark a major shift in the Biden administration's China strategy, and present a substantial threat to high-tech industries in China, including military technology and artificial intelligence. Washington think tank CSIS called the White House's new approach to the Chinese tech sector "strangling with an intent to kill." A Chinese American tech entrepreneur tweeted that China's chip businesses fear "annihilation" and "industry-wide decapitation."

Dominance across cutting-edge technologies has long been a centerpiece of Beijing's vision for the country's future. China can already compete with industry leaders across a range of leading-edge technologies, but global semiconductor production is still dominated by a few corporations, none of them Chinese. China is dependent on foreign chips; the country spends more per year importing chips than oil.

But the new export controls ban the export to China of cutting-edge chips, as well as chip design software, chip manufacturing equipment, and US-built components of manufacturing equipment. Not only do the prohibitions cover exports from American firms, but also apply to any company worldwide that uses US semiconductor technology — which would cover all the world's leading chipmakers. The new rules also forbid US citizens, residents, and green-card holders from working in Chinese chip firms.

In short, the Biden administration wants to prevent China from buying the world's best chips and the machines to make them. These top chips will power not only the next generations of military and AI technologies, but also self-driving vehicles and the surveillance tech that Beijing relies on to monitor its citizens.

What are the stakes of the Biden administration's move? How will China respond? Where does this geopolitical drama go next? To find out, I spoke with Jordan Schneider, a senior analyst for China and technology at the Rhodium Group, a research firm. A transcript of our conversation follows, edited for length and clarity.

Michael Bluhm


What is the Biden administration hoping to achieve with these export controls?

Jordan Schneider


In a speech in September, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan gave a new justification for US thinking about export controls of emerging technologies in China. He made the case that certain technologies are "force multipliers," and so important to future economic and national security eventualities that the US needs to do whatever it can to increase the gap between American and Chinese capabilities.

Because of that, you now see these path-breaking and very aggressive tech controls on semiconductors. The goal is to maintain, for certain foundational technologies, as large a lead as possible for the rest of the world ahead of China.

Michael Bluhm


Observers in both the US and China have said that this is a tremendously important move by the Biden administration, for both technology and geopolitics. How big of a deal is this?

Jordan Schneider


It's a big deal for the Chinese semiconductor industry. It's a big deal for the global semiconductor industry. When you're weighing its importance in the entirety of US policy, it is a relatively niche thing, but it's important because it's an inflection point.

It's the first manifestation of this new doctrine that Jake Sullivan put forward, and it's likely to play out across a number of different technologies. Alan Estevez, the undersecretary of commerce who leads the Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security, said in late October that the US is not necessarily going to stop at semiconductors. They're going to go down the list of the potential, emerging technologies that will define the next few decades of the global economic and technological landscape, and then figure out what the US can do to try to constrain domestic Chinese capabilities.

The export controls are an important fulcrum for a number of reasons. First, during these first two years of the Biden administration, it wasn't clear that they would land where they did: taking much more aggressive steps to constrain Chinese technological development.

Second, it's a milestone on a very long arc. In the early 1980s, the US was trying to boost Chinese technology, to balance against the Soviet Union. We brought China into the World Trade Organization. And now, the conclusion by a centrist Democrat president — which would be ramped up and amplified if a Republican took office — is that China can't be trusted with frontier tech.

That's because of China's place in the world, and in particular because of the centrality of civil-military fusion in [Chinese President Xi Jinping's] vision — the idea that the Chinese state is hoping to use civilian companies to directly increase Chinese military capabilities.

The restrictions are a very dramatic decision by the Biden administration, and if US-China competition weren't already baked in, this is really a point of no return for the relationship.

Michael Bluhm


This seems like a dramatic geopolitical moment. And this relationship, at least according to some analysts, might define global politics in the 21st century. How might the export controls affect dynamics between the US and China?

Jordan Schneider


It's important to recognize that this is a dynamic environment. The Chinese government will have its say, too. With the Chinese Communist Party's recent Party Congress, we had a dramatic manifestation of just how much Xi has consolidated power and how his vision of China's future will dominate the People's Republic for years.

The Biden administration spent its first two years saying to China, "Let's do some stuff on climate change. Maybe we can collaborate on some public-health issues." Time after time, the Chinese government has just not been interested in pursuing the positive-sum activities that the Biden administration came in thinking that it might be able to pursue.

The Biden administration would have liked a slightly more even balance between the competitive, collaborative, and adversarial parts of the US-China relationship, but that's not where Xi wants to take it.

The administration has come to the conclusion that the types of collaboration that Xi is particularly interested in — such as the transfer to China of foreign technologies — doesn't play to the US advantage in the long term. There's a completely merited lack of trust, in the Biden administration, for where Xi wants to take China.

Michael Bluhm


You began your answer by making the point that China has agency here, too— and by noting Xi's increasing political dominance. So how are China's leaders responding to the export controls?

Jordan Schneider


We haven't heard a lot in the past few weeks, for understandable reasons. The Party Congress is the largest political event every five years, and it definitely led to less decision-making bandwidth for senior leaders.

Given some recent reporting from Bloomberg about a conversation that officials from China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology had with senior executives in the Chinese semiconductor industry, it seems like they're still processing what this means for the future of their industry. They will soon find, if they haven't already, that this is a really devastating blow for the future of Chinese firms trying to develop frontier tech in the chip space.

They have a number of potential paths ahead. They could double down on manufacturing lagging-edge tech, which means well-established technologies that are still widely used in countless products. They could try to punish the US by retaliating against leading electronics firms. They could retaliate directly against the semiconductor supply chain by making moves on the rare earth minerals necessary to make chips, or on packaging — areas where China has a considerable place in the global market. They could do something as escalatory as a cyber-attack on some leading-edge American chipmaker.

Given how core this vision of creating a self-reliant tech ecosystem is to China's leaders, I don't think they're going to look at these export controls and say, "Okay, maybe we should give up and focus somewhere else." The long-term goal of creating leading-edge capacity in China has been such a core part of Xi's vision that I find it hard to imagine them not taking this as a challenge.

Michael Bluhm


Building a cutting-edge tech industry is a critical part of Xi's strategy, as you say, but the US is also working to move some chip manufacturing onshore. The pandemic made clear to many in both parties that the US was dependent on fragile supply chains for many of the most critical technologies.

The CHIPS Act passed in July with bipartisan support in the Senate, and it aims to support research and production of semiconductor chips in America. But how realistic is it to build a substantial chip manufacturing industry in the United States?

Jordan Schneider


It's definitely realistic. For a long time, America manufactured most of these chips. It's unrealistic to do what China is now going to have to do: create leading-edge chips in China by localizing thousands of different steps in the supply chain.

The CHIPS Act and the broader push to restore semiconductor fabrication to the US has a number of different aims. The Commerce Department outlined four goals in its strategy document: to invest in American production of strategically important chips, particularly leading-edge chips; to make the global supply chain more sustainable, particularly for national security purposes; to support American R&D; and make the American semiconductor workforce more diverse and vibrant.

Those aims are achievable, though it's unclear whether the funding in the act is going to be enough. Given the worries about potential disruption of chip manufacturing in Taiwan, this is a bit of an insurance policy for any eventuality there.

There is also a broader justification in industrial strategy, because this is and will continue to be one of the most important industries. Without this support, it's unlikely that much new semiconductor fabrication capacity would come online at all within the US, because it's competing against Taiwan, Singapore, Japan, China, and South Korea, all of which subsidize domestic manufacturers.

Michael Bluhm


In the end, how seriously do you think this could damage the Chinese high-tech industry?

Jordan Schneider


This is essentially freezing in place the level to which these Chinese fabrication firms have advanced today. There's a ton of fabrication capacity in lagging-edge tech in China. They'll be able to continue business as usual, making hundreds of millions of chips that go into electronics sold all over the world. But they won't be able to make the highest-end, highest performance, most power-efficient chips, which the US government has identified as being important — particularly for WMD, but also in the coming artificial intelligence revolution. These are the chips that are going to be running the AI models that are going to shape our lives militarily and economically.

The advancement that you would expect Chinese firms to make is now largely closed off to them. The international technology and suppliers that they would need to advance to where Intel, TSMC, and Samsung currently are, is now blocked off to them, thanks to these new regulations.

Michael Bluhm is a senior editor at The Signal. He was previously the managing editor at the Open Markets Institute and a writer and editor for the Daily Star in Beirut.


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Kavika
Professor Principal
1  seeder  Kavika     2 years ago

This development along with the US/Australia venture on rare earth metals is changing the landscape. 

.

A number of new ''chip'' plants are being built in the US as well.

Today five major chipmakers — GlobalFoundries, Intel, Samsung Foundry, TSMC, and Texas Instruments — are building new semiconductor production facilities in the U.S. These efforts will inevitably be bolstered by a new wave of funding provided by the newly-approved CHIPS act.

Another avenue that is showing huge promise is the ''creation'' of rare earth metals in a lab.

Most of all of the above is flying under the radar but will have enormous postive concequences for the US.

 
 
 
sandy-2021492
Professor Expert
1.1  sandy-2021492  replied to  Kavika @1    2 years ago
enormous postive concequences for the US.

Putting America first.

 
 
 
Kavika
Professor Principal
1.1.1  seeder  Kavika   replied to  sandy-2021492 @1.1    2 years ago

That is a serious program and will have a huge effect on our ability to maintain a lead in all forms of technology.

 
 
 
Split Personality
Professor Guide
1.1.2  Split Personality  replied to  Kavika @1.1.1    2 years ago

New development in a new reactor based on mixing uranium with salt

for molten salt, eliminates radiation leaks, radioactive waste and has no potential for melt down accidents.

Rare earth minerals would be a byproduct of refining the molten salt.

A New Molten Salt Reactor Design Unveiled In The UK (euronuclear.org)

 
 
 
Kavika
Professor Principal
1.1.3  seeder  Kavika   replied to  Split Personality @1.1.2    2 years ago
The 750°C heat produced by the reactor could also be used forwater desalinationand more efficienthydrogen production. Roughly the size of a two-storied house,each reactor has the potential to power 40,000 homes.

Impressive to say the least.

 
 
 
Split Personality
Professor Guide
1.1.4  Split Personality  replied to  Kavika @1.1.3    2 years ago

Without the danger of a radiation leak or meltdown

the footprint and security zone are a  fraction of what a typical Three Mile Island facility would be.

Sounds too good to be true, eh?

 
 
 
Kavika
Professor Principal
1.1.5  seeder  Kavika   replied to  Split Personality @1.1.4    2 years ago
Sounds too good to be true, eh?

It really does, SP.

 
 
 
Ender
Professor Principal
1.1.6  Ender  replied to  Split Personality @1.1.4    2 years ago
Sounds too good to be true, eh?

It kinda does. Plus the making of rare earth minerals.

 
 
 
Kavika
Professor Principal
1.1.7  seeder  Kavika   replied to  Ender @1.1.6    2 years ago

I just read that Germany stopped the sale of two chips in Germany to China.

 
 
 
Ed-NavDoc
Professor Quiet
2  Ed-NavDoc    2 years ago

Big question is will the Biden are administration do it and follow through if they do? I have my doubts.

 
 
 
Kavika
Professor Principal
2.1  seeder  Kavika   replied to  Ed-NavDoc @2    2 years ago
Big question is will the Biden are administration do and follow through it they do? I have my doubts.

Everything in the article and all of the projects in my comment are currently working.

 
 
 
Ed-NavDoc
Professor Quiet
2.1.1  Ed-NavDoc  replied to  Kavika @2.1    2 years ago

My meaning was meant more towards the future.

 
 
 
Kavika
Professor Principal
2.1.2  seeder  Kavika   replied to  Ed-NavDoc @2.1.1    2 years ago

The export bans are in effect now and were put into place by the administration. Why in the world would they not enforce them?

The agreement with Australia on the rare earth metals the building of the processing plant in the US has been awarded and the supply chain is in place. I'm sure that Japan will become part of it soon.

The chip plants are being built as we speak and the lab/science on the rare earth metals is moving forward. Whether we are able to complete that is all about science and technology.

 
 
 
Kavika
Professor Principal
3  seeder  Kavika     2 years ago
But the new export controls ban the export to China of cutting-edge chips, as well as chip design software, chip manufacturing equipment, and US-built components of manufacturing equipment. Not only do the prohibitions cover exports from American firms, but also apply to any company worldwide that uses US semiconductor technology — which would cover all the world's leading chipmakers. The new rules also forbid US citizens, residents, and green-card holders from working in Chinese chip firms.

This is a real blow to China.

 
 
 
Ed-NavDoc
Professor Quiet
3.1  Ed-NavDoc  replied to  Kavika @3    2 years ago

Certainly hope so.

 
 
 
Ender
Professor Principal
4  Ender    2 years ago
the US is also working to move some chip manufacturing onshore. The pandemic made clear to many in both parties that the US was dependent on fragile supply chains for many of the most critical technologies.

Imo the pandemic made a lot of things clear. Showed a lot of our short comings.

 
 
 
Kavika
Professor Principal
4.1  seeder  Kavika   replied to  Ender @4    2 years ago

The new chip plants are being built as we speak, Ender.

 
 
 
Gsquared
Professor Principal
5  Gsquared    2 years ago

This is a very important move.  It will strengthen the American economy and our national security.  Cheers for the Biden Administration!

 
 
 
Kavika
Professor Principal
5.1  seeder  Kavika   replied to  Gsquared @5    2 years ago

It is a very positive move and the items that I listed in my first comment cure more of the various problem, US chip plants, the deal with Australia on rare earth metals are all a very big deal.

 
 
 
Gsquared
Professor Principal
5.1.1  Gsquared  replied to  Kavika @5.1    2 years ago

That is true.  I intended my comment to include everything you mentioned.

 
 
 
al Jizzerror
Masters Expert
6  al Jizzerror    2 years ago

Not only do the prohibitions cover exports from American firms, but also apply to any company worldwide that uses US semiconductor technology — which would cover all the world's leading chipmakers.

This ban on exporting the best technology to China along with the CHIPS Act will create high paying jobs for Americans.

Biden's policies will put America first.  These policies will benefit the US much more than the empty slogans of the previous administration.

 
 
 
Kavika
Professor Principal
6.1  seeder  Kavika   replied to  al Jizzerror @6    2 years ago

The nonsense that is politics today is, IMO ''heads up the ass'' babble, when programs like what we have in this article are rarely mentioned. I guess that conspiracy theories draw in more morons. 

 
 
 
Drinker of the Wry
Junior Expert
6.1.1  Drinker of the Wry  replied to  Kavika @6.1    2 years ago

Agree.  The Commerce Department worked with both industry and allies while crafting the rules so they weren't surprised and it increases the odds of getting allies, to adopt similar measures.  Well done Commerce Dept.

 
 
 
Kavika
Professor Principal
6.1.2  seeder  Kavika   replied to  Drinker of the Wry @6.1.1    2 years ago

Seems that Canada is headed in this direction as well.

I just posted an article on Canada/China rare earth metals.

 
 
 
Kavika
Professor Principal
7  seeder  Kavika     2 years ago

Seems that if the Biden administration does something that is good for the US none on NT want to recognize it.

Fucking politics.

 
 
 
al Jizzerror
Masters Expert
7.1  al Jizzerror  replied to  Kavika @7    2 years ago
the Biden administration does something that is good for the US none on NT want to recognize it.

There are lots of idiots who think Trump and his stupid fucking lies were good for the US.

 
 
 
Drinker of the Wry
Junior Expert
7.2  Drinker of the Wry  replied to  Kavika @7    2 years ago
Seems that if the Biden administration does something that is good for the US none on NT want to recognize it.

Seems that most folks here have more fun attacking the other side than even praising their own.

 
 
 
Nowhere Man
Junior Guide
7.2.1  Nowhere Man  replied to  Drinker of the Wry @7.2    2 years ago
Seems that most folks here have more fun attacking the other side than even praising their own.

That's what you get when your side is such a disaster that there is NOTHING to praise... They are forced to trash the opposition.... They have nothing else...

 
 
 
devangelical
Professor Principal
7.2.2  devangelical  replied to  Nowhere Man @7.2.1    2 years ago
They are forced to trash the opposition.... They have nothing else...

... sounds like the 2022 republican platform, since they haven't offered any solutions so far...

 
 
 
Kavika
Professor Principal
7.2.3  seeder  Kavika   replied to  Nowhere Man @7.2.1    2 years ago
That's what you get when your side is such a disaster that there is NOTHING to praise... They are forced to trash the opposition.... They have nothing else...

Sad commentary but not unexpected. So the items listed in the article and the ones in my comments are  NOTHING. 

Good to know that in your expert opinion that they are nothing, damn good thing that tens of millions think they are something.

 
 
 
Drinker of the Wry
Junior Expert
7.2.4  Drinker of the Wry  replied to  devangelical @7.2.2    2 years ago

Aren't platforms offered at national conventions, every four years, not every two?

 
 

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