European chipmakers seek stability in the wake of new US export restrictions

Summary:

• European chipmakers said they are looking for stability for their operations.
• Washington's export restrictions hinder operations of global supply chains.

Chipmakers seeking stability

Leading European chipmakers said they are looking for stability for their operations in China as Washington's export restrictions hinder operations of global supply chains. STMicroelectronics, Infineon, and NXP Semiconductors' chief executives stated on Monday that while they are in compliance with Washington's export restrictions against China's semiconductor industry, they do not have any plans to stop doing business in the Asian nation, which has the second-largest economy in the world.

One of the largest semiconductor trade fairs in Europe, Electronica in Munich, hosted the CEO Roundtable special event where the remarks were made. Early in October, the US Department of Commerce began a fresh wave of export control measures to limit China's capacity to develop cutting-edge computer and artificial intelligence technology by limiting access to US technologies.

As their products for the Chinese market are more about mature chip production technology than the advanced ones targeted by Washington, European companies who supply tools used in chip production, like ASML, and European chipmakers are less affected by the new laws than American companies.

Geopolitical unrest for European chipmakers

However, European chip companies are concerned that the geopolitical unrest brought on by the escalating hostilities between Washington and Beijing will stymie their business activities in China. The Joe Biden administration reportedly tried to establish a trilateral deal with Japan and the Netherlands on Sunday, according to the Financial Times, in order to make it more challenging for China to produce cutting-edge semiconductors for military applications. Despite the fact that the new regulations have no impact on NXP's operations in China, Sievers said the company has advised its US-based employees to stop communicating with clients who are engaged in the semiconductor manufacturing industry in China since the regulations went into effect last month.

Sources: ft.com