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Tense relations between China and the United States
Reuters reported that the administration of US President Donald Trump is about to announce the imposition of trade sanctions on dozens of Chinese companies, led by the International Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (SMIC).
The agency cited two people familiar with the matter who confirmed that the U.S. Commerce Department will today announce the blacklisting of 80 companies, almost all Chinese, which is the latest attempt by outgoing President Trump to install his approach to hard line to Beijing.
The agency claimed that the measure would affect several Chinese companies, which Washington accused of collaborating with the military, especially in the development of projects to build and militarize artificial islands in the South China Sea, in addition to being involved in alleged violations of human rights.
To date, the Trump administration has listed more than 275 Chinese companies with the aim of targeting the largest sectors of the country’s economy, led by giant companies Huawei, ZTE and Hikvision.
The US Department of Commerce had forced the exporters of some equipment to SMIC to obtain a special license, claiming that there was a risk that these products would fall into the hands of the Chinese military.
Last month, the Pentagon blacklisted the Chinese giant, in a move that effectively prevented US investors from acquiring its shares starting next year.
The company has repeatedly denied any link between it and the Chinese military.
Partially state-owned SMIC is China’s largest semiconductor producer, but lags behind the world leader in this field, Taiwan Semiconductor Industry Co., Ltd. (TSMC).
