Japan announced on Friday that it will control exports of 23 items used in semiconductor production, following the Netherlands’ similar restrictions earlier this month, which drew criticism from China. A trade‑ministry official in the export‑control division told AFP that the measure is intended to “complement efforts to avoid the military diversion of technologies.” The ministry will now seek public opinion on the rules, which local media say are expected to take effect in July.
In recent years, tensions have escalated in the global microchip market as Western officials have warned about the supply of core components to increasingly adversarial trading partners. The Dutch government introduced its new export rules after pressure from the United States to limit Chinese access to the technology. Japan was also expected to follow suit, with its ally Washington reportedly urging the country to impose similar controls.
In October, the United States announced export measures aimed at restricting China’s ability to purchase and manufacture high‑end chips with military applications. Those measures included limits on certain chips used in supercomputing and stricter requirements for the sale of semiconductor equipment. The U.S. Commerce Department said the actions were meant to prevent “sensitive technologies with military applications” from falling into the hands of China’s military, intelligence, and security services.
China responded by filing a dispute with the World Trade Organization, accusing Washington of threatening global supply chains, and labeled the Dutch move as the result of “bullying and hegemony” by the West.
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