China has initiated two investigations into the US semiconductor sector, according to an announcement by the Ministry of Commerce on Saturday. The move comes ahead of trade talks between the two countries, scheduled to begin in Spain on Sunday. The talks, which will last for four days, aim to ease escalating trade tensions between the world’s two largest economies.
The first investigation is an anti-dumping probe into certain analog integrated circuit chips imported from the US. The probe will target commodity interface IC chips and gate driver IC chips, which are commonly produced by US companies such as Texas Instruments and ON Semiconductor. The Ministry of Commerce stated that the investigation will examine whether these chips are being dumped in the Chinese market, causing harm to domestic industries.
The second investigation is an anti-discrimination probe, focusing on alleged US measures against China’s chip sector. The Ministry of Commerce stated that “certain US measures in the integrated circuit sector amount to discriminatory bans, restrictions, or similar actions targeting China.” This investigation will examine whether US export controls and other measures are unfairly targeting Chinese companies and restricting their access to advanced technologies.
The announcement comes after the US Department of Commerce added 32 foreign entities, including 23 Chinese companies, to its trade blacklist. The blacklisted companies were targeted for their alleged involvement in activities that undermine fair trade practices and national security interests. The move has sparked tensions between the two countries, with China accusing the US of politicizing trade and disrupting global supply chains.
The trade talks between the US and China are the fourth round of negotiations in recent months. The talks aim to address issues such as intellectual property theft, forced technology transfer, and export controls. The US has repeatedly accused China of unfair trade practices, while China has condemned US export controls as discriminatory and harmful to global trade.
The investigations and trade talks come amid a broader backdrop of escalating trade tensions between the US and China. The two countries have been engaged in a trade war for several years, with both sides imposing tariffs and other trade restrictions on each other’s goods. The trade war has had significant impacts on global trade and the economy, with many companies and industries affected by the tariffs and other measures.