[1/2] Semiconductor chips are seen on a circuit board of a computer in this illustrative image taken on February 25, 2022. REUTERS/Florence Lo/Illustration
WASHINGTON, Jan 31 (Reuters) – An American official on Tuesday made the most direct comments from a US agency, confirming the existence of an agreement with Japan and the Netherlands for those countries to introduce new restrictions on the export of chipmaking tools to impose on China.
“We can’t talk about the deal right now,” Assistant Secretary of Commerce Don Graves said on the sidelines of an event in Washington. “But you can certainly talk to our friends in Japan and the Netherlands.”
Bloomberg reported on Friday that an agreement had been reached, and two people familiar with the matter later confirmed the news to Reuters.
The United States imposed sweeping export restrictions on shipments of chip-making tools to China in October in a bid to hamper Beijing’s ability to supercharge its chip industry and boost its military capabilities.
For the restrictions to take effect, however, Washington had to bring on board the Netherlands and Japan, which are home to chipmakers ASML (ASML.AS) and Tokyo Electron (8035.T), among others.
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The Commerce Department said in an email it will continue to coordinate export controls with allies. See the article : Sports Friday is a brief day.
“We recognize that multilateral controls are more effective than unilateral controls and that foreign engagement in these controls is a … priority,” the agency said.
Officials from the Netherlands and Japan were in Washington on Friday, discussing a variety of issues in talks led by White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan.
Asked Friday whether a deal on semiconductors had been discussed, US President Joe Biden said, “Yes, we’ve talked about a lot of things, but a lot of it is private.”
Reporting by Alexandra Alper and David Shepardson; Additional reporting by Steve Holland; Writing by Alexandra Alper; Editing by Tom Hogue
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