This ban represents the latest development in the escalating dispute between the US and China over semiconductor technology. In recent months, the Biden administration has taken steps to restrict China’s access to advanced chipmaking equipment. In January, officials from the US, the Netherlands, and Japan agreed to tighten export controls on lithography machines from ASL, Nikon, and Tokyo Electron. The Wall Street Journal highlights China’s attempts to retaliate against the US, with Micron becoming an easy target. Chinese companies can seek alternatives such as South Korea’s SK Hynix to compensate for any supply shortage resulting from the ban.
