Bipartisan US Lawmakers Demand Stricter Semiconductor Export Controls on China
A significant bipartisan coalition of United States lawmakers has formally urged the Biden administration to intensify efforts to restrict China's access to advanced semiconductor manufacturing equipment. In a detailed letter addressed to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, the legislators emphasized the critical national security imperative of closing existing gaps in the export control regime.
Key Signatories and Urgent Call to Action
The letter was spearheaded by House Select Committee on China Chairman John Moolenaar and House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast. It garnered support from a broad spectrum of congressional leaders, including House Foreign Affairs Ranking Member Meeks, South and Central Asia Subcommittee Chairman Bill Huizenga, South and Central Asia Subcommittee Ranking Member Sydney Kamlager-Dove, and Congressmen Greg Stanton, Michael Baumgartner, and Johnny Olszewski.
The lawmakers have called for immediate and vigorous diplomatic engagement with allied nations to implement comprehensive, countrywide controls on critical semiconductor manufacturing equipment and its subcomponents. They have specifically requested a detailed briefing from the administration within the next month, outlining a concrete strategy and timeline for securing international cooperation on this front.
National Security at the Core of the Argument
The legislators' primary concern revolves around the profound national security implications of China's access to advanced chipmaking technology. The letter articulates that semiconductor manufacturing equipment represents one of America's most potent leverages in its strategic competition with the People's Republic of China.
This equipment is deemed essential not only for producing the advanced artificial intelligence chips that will shape future economic and military power but also for manufacturing the legacy chips integrated into People's Liberation Army weapons systems and intelligence platforms. The lawmakers warn that maintaining stringent restrictions on this technology is fundamental to safeguarding US national security interests.
Identifying Critical Gaps in Current Controls
Despite acknowledging bipartisan progress across administrations—from the Trump administration's success in restricting Dutch exports of extreme ultraviolet lithography tools to the Biden administration's expansion of control categories—the letter highlights persistent and dangerous loopholes.
A major vulnerability identified is the current reliance on entity-specific controls for certain foreign-produced equipment, rather than imposing blanket countrywide restrictions. The lawmakers argue this is insufficient because once equipment enters China, the US government has extremely limited capacity to enforce end-use and end-user restrictions due to stringent PRC oversight of verification processes.
Alarming Trends and Escalating Threats
Citing recent reports, including the Select Committee on China's bipartisan report Selling the Forges of the Future, the letter reveals troubling trends. It notes that China has significantly accelerated imports of foreign-produced chokepoint equipment in recent years.
For instance, Dutch sales to China of advanced lithography equipment—considered the most critical chokepoint in the semiconductor supply chain—reportedly doubled from 2022 to 2023 and then doubled again from 2023 to 2024. Furthermore, reports suggest China is upgrading these imported tools to levels that likely exceed current export control thresholds, representing a permanent erosion of American leverage.
The Path Forward: Diplomacy with Clear Deadlines
The proposed solution centers on assertive diplomatic engagement with allies who share an interest in preventing Chinese semiconductor self-sufficiency. The lawmakers urge the administration to press for the implementation of countrywide controls on all key chokepoint equipment and subcomponents that China cannot produce domestically.
This engagement must be coupled with clear and reasonable deadlines. The letter suggests that if allies fail to act within these timelines, the United States should be prepared to take unilateral action, including potentially prohibiting the use of US-origin components in the production of chokepoint tools destined for China. Additionally, the administration is encouraged to work with allies to restrict the servicing of such equipment within China to the greatest extent possible.
The lawmakers conclude with a stark warning: the window to secure America's semiconductor advantage is rapidly narrowing. They express a bipartisan readiness to collaborate with the administration to ensure the export control regime and the alliances underpinning it are robust enough to meet this formidable challenge.
