China to curb exports of key chipmaking components to US

Beijing said Tuesday it would restrict exports to the United States of some key components in making semiconductors, after Washington announced curbs targeting China's ability to make advanced chips. Among the materials banned from export are metals gallium, antimony and germanium, Beijing's commerce ministry said in a statement that cited "national security" concerns. “The move is clearly a retaliatory strike at the US,” Asst Prof Dylan Loh from Singapore’s NTU told AFP. “It drives home an important point which is that China is not completely passive (and) there are some cards it can play and hit the US with as well with regard to chips.”

Click here to read article.

- Reproduced in The Straits Times, page A20 and The Business Times, page 15