The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA), an American industry group, has called for multilateral chip export controls to address the perceived disadvantage faced by US firms compared to their rivals from South Korea and other countries. The SIA submitted written comments to the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) under the Commerce Department, urging the implementation of new controls to level the playing field for US companies. The association argued that unilateral controls imposed on US firms put them at a competitive disadvantage, particularly in comparison to foreign competitors from countries like South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Israel, and the Netherlands. These countries are able to export semiconductor manufacturing equipment to advanced fabrication facilities in China without the same restrictions faced by US companies. The SIA emphasized the need for multilateral controls, stating that every dollar earned by non-US competitors due to the existence of unilateral controls is invested in their R&D efforts, potentially leading to the erosion of US semiconductor leadership. In response, the under secretary of commerce for industry and security, Alan Estevez, suggested that the US, South Korea, and other allies are engaging in preliminary discussions to establish a new export control regime for cutting-edge technologies like semiconductors and quantum computing.
While the US currently has strict unilateral chip export controls in place, the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) is advocating for new multilateral controls to level the playing field for US firms. In a statement submitted to the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), the SIA argued that the current unilateral controls put American companies at a disadvantage compared to their competitors from South Korea and other countries. The association highlighted that while US firms face end-use controls and prohibitions on supporting advanced fabrication facilities in China, foreign competitors from Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Israel, and the Netherlands can export equipment without such restrictions. According to the SIA, multilateral controls are more effective in ensuring fair competition and safeguarding the competitiveness of US semiconductor manufacturing equipment companies. The SIA also urged the BIS to take all necessary measures to implement these new controls, as every dollar earned by non-US competitors due to the existing unilateral controls could be used to undermine US semiconductor leadership. The US government, along with South Korea and other allied nations, is reportedly exploring the idea of a new export control regime to protect advanced technologies like semiconductors and quantum computing from falling into the hands of potential adversaries. Alan Estevez, undersecretary of commerce for industry and security, emphasized the need for a new control regime, citing the current pace of rapid technological change that has outpaced existing multilateral frameworks.
