Chinese memory manufacturer YMTC added to US export restriction list

The US government has added YMTC to a blacklist. With this, the White House wants to prevent the Chinese memory manufacturer from sending American technology to other Chinese companies that are already on the list.

In addition to YMTC, “21 other major Chinese players in the artificial intelligence chip industry” have been added to the list, including Cambricon Technologies Corp and CETC. YMTC was added to the list over fears it could divert US technology to Chinese tech giants Huawei and Hikvision, writes Reuters. Trade restrictions have already been imposed on these companies.

The measure prohibits YMTC’s suppliers and the other companies from shipping U.S. goods to them without a specific permit. Export restrictions also apply to a wider range of (foreign) products made with American technology. YMTC, Cambricon Technologies Corp and CETC have not yet responded to the imposed export restrictions.

The US recently introduced far-reaching restrictions on the export of advanced chips and chip production machines to China. US export restrictions represent an escalation in a trade conflict that has been going on for some time between the two world powers. The Chinese manufacturers will be listed if US officials cannot inspect them on site and assess their reliability. These inspections require the approval of the Ministry of Commerce in China.