Taiwan adds Huawei, SMIC to export control list

Taiwan’s government has included China’s Huawei Technologies and Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC) on its export control list, alongside other banned organisations such as the Taliban and al Qaeda.

Being listed on the strategic high-tech commodities entity list of the trade administration of the economy ministry requires Taiwanese companies to obtain government approval before exporting any products to the listed companies.

The companies were added to the trade administration’s website by the ministry on Saturday. Neither company nor the economy ministry responded to requests for comment outside of office hours over the weekend.

Taiwan is home to TSMC, the largest contract chipmaker globally and a significant chip supplier to Nvidia, a prominent player in AI technology. Huawei and SMIC are striving to advance in the chip technology competition.

Taiwan, a territory claimed by China despite Taipei’s strong objections, already enforces strict export controls on chips for Taiwanese companies that manufacture in the country or supply Chinese firms.

Attribution: Reuters

Subediting: M. S. Salama