Chips Chatter: January 10-17, 2023

Last Week: U.S. Multilateral Technology Policy

• U.S., Mexico, Canada agreed to strengthen chips coordination: During the North American Leaders Summit, U.S. President Joe Biden, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador of Mexico, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada announced plans to deepen coordination of semiconductor supply chains and critical minerals resource mapping.

• U.S.-UK hold tech-centric meeting in Washington: Negotiators from the U.S. and the United Kingdom held their first tech-centric meeting, during which British officials advocated for a more “balanced” set of technology rules.

• Japan to consider semiconductor positions “with responsibility:” After a visit to the White House, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Japan would consider “with responsibility” how to deal with semiconductor trade and base its decision on new controls in economic security considerations.

In Case You Missed It

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) published its Fall 2022 Regulatory Agenda.

• Why it matters: It includes plans to finalize its October interim rule that introduced a broad set of new export controls targeting China.

• What’s more: BIS also extended its chip restrictions to Macau. According to BIS, Macau—as a special administrative region of China—presents a “risk of diversion” of export-controlled items and should be subject to the same license requirements introduced by its October rule.

The State Department’s Office of the Special Envoy for Critical and Emerging Technology officially began operations.

• Why it matters: This office will coordinate expertise around technology policy, diplomatic leadership, and strategic direction for the State Department to address emerging technologies, including biotechnology, advanced computing, artificial intelligence, and quantum information technologies.

The Stanford Center on China’s Economy and Institutions (SCCEI) and Asia Society Policy Institute’s Center for China Analysis (CCA) held a roundtable on the scope, impact, and implications of China’s industrial policy.

• Zoom in: The report also analyzed China’s semiconductor industry vis-à-vis China’s industrial policy and concluded that although the growth of China’s semiconductor industry has been noteworthy, its domestic stock exchanges are still highly distorted and heavily regulated.