China takes chip control case to world’s top trade office

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) - Accusing the US of hindering normal international trade, China has filed a formal complaint against Washington at the World Trade Organization (WTO) over restrictions on semiconductors and other hi-tech exports to Chinese companies.

“In recent years, the US side has continuously overstretched the notion of national security, abused export control measures, (and) hindered the normal international trade of chips and other products,” China’s Ministry of Commerce said in a statement after Beijing filed a suit at WTO’s dispute-settlement body on Monday.

Beijing accused the US of taking “a typical practice of trade protectionism” in curbing the export of chip products to China on security grounds, the daily South China Morning Post reported.

“[That] threatened the stability of global supply chains and industrial chains, undermined the international economic and trade order, violated international economic and trade rules, defied basic economic laws, and harmed the interests of global peace and development,” the ministry added.

Beijing’s move comes as the US has increased restrictions against China acquiring high-end US chip technology, equipment, or talent.

The updated restrictions on China were released in October by the US Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security in a 139-page document.

According to Chinese Ambassador to Washington Qin Gang, the US has added more than 1,000 Chinese companies to various lists for American export controls and sanctions.