Rumor has it that the United States is discussing with South Korea to strengthen restrictions on semiconductor exports to China

U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel said in an interview that the U.S. is discussing restrictions on semiconductor exports to China with Japan, the Netherlands and South Korea and that an agreement needs to be reached.

According to Bloomberg News, Emanuel spoke by phone in recent days during the talks between Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and US President Biden. He emphasized the importance of South Korea and the Netherlands working with Japan. Joint statement on security issues, but work continues on the chip industry restriction agreement. Not only do you have to work through Japan, but you have to work through South Korea, you have to work through the Netherlands, and it’s a lot of work.”

It is reported that South Korea is home to two of the world's leading memory chip manufacturers, Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, while the Netherlands has ASML, the world's most advanced manufacturer of chip lithography systems, and Japan provides the necessary machinery and equipment for chip manufacturers. Materials, also play a key role in the industry's supply chain. The U.S. government wants the three countries to join forces and take stricter measures on Chinese exports.

"The discussion that is being sought is not just bilateral, it has to be multilateral," Emanuel said.

However, a spokesman for the South Korean trade ministry said the South Korean government has not discussed with the United States to participate in the US export restrictions on China.

As for the attitudes of the Netherlands and Japan, it was recently reported that in the face of pressure from the United States to restrict the sale of advanced chip technology to China, the Netherlands is weighing whether to ban ASML from exporting some of the equipment needed to manufacture semiconductors; Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yasutoshi Nishimura said Japan will " Strengthen” collaboration with the U.S. to limit high-tech exports to China.