Japan and the Netherlands have agreed to a deal with the US to restrict China’s access to materials used to make advanced computer chips.
The source insisted to remain anonymous until the authorities make a formal announcement. It’s unclear when all three sides will unveil the agreement. The White House declined to comment.
The Biden administration in October imposed export controls to limit China’s ability to access advanced chips, which it says can be used to make weapons, commit human rights abuses and improve the speed and accuracy of its military logistics. It urged allies like Japan and the Netherlands to follow suit.
China has responded angrily, saying trade curbs will disrupt supply chains and the global economic recovery.
“We hope the relevant countries will do the right thing and work together to uphold the multilateral trade regime and safeguard the stability of the global industrial and supply chains,” China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said earlier this month.
“This will also serve to protect their own long-term interests.”
White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Friday that Dutch and Japanese officials were in Washington for talks.
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President Joe Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, leads the talks that covered the “safety and security of emerging technologies.
“We’re grateful that they were able to come to D.C. and to have these talks,” Kirby said.
Kirby declined to say whether there was a deal on tighter export controls on semiconductor technology. This month, Biden met separately with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte to push for tighter export controls.
