China has filed a dispute with the World Trade Organization over
U.S. restrictions on chip exports, Beijing’s commerce ministry said
in a statement late on Dec. 12, accusing Washington of threatening
global supply chains.
The United States in October announced new export controls aimed at
restricting China’s ability to buy and manufacture high-end chips
with military applications, complicating Beijing’s push to further
its own semiconductor industry and develop advanced military
systems.
The moves include export restrictions on some chips used in
supercomputing as well as stricter requirements on the sale of
semiconductor equipment.
The aim is to prevent “sensitive technologies with military
applications” from being acquired by China’s military, intelligence
and security services, the US Commerce Department said in
October.
But China’s Ministry of Commerce on Dec. 12 accused the United
States of “obstructing normal international trade in products
including chips and threatening the stability of the global
industrial supply chain”, as well as violating international trade
rules and engaging in “protectionist practices”.
The WTO dispute is intended to defend China’s “legitimate rights
and interests”, the ministry said in its statement, urging
Washington to “give up zero-sum thinking”.
The two superpowers have long faced off over a range of issues
including technology, trade, Hong Kong, Taiwan and human
rights.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden pledged to
repair frayed relations at a summit in Bali, Indonesia last
month.
Days before the latest chip controls, the Pentagon added 13 more
Chinese firms including drone manufacturer DJI and surveillance
firm Zhejiang Dahua Technology to a blacklist of military-linked
entities.
China launches WTO dispute over US chip sanctions
