Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) has announced an amendment to the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act that adds 23 categories including advanced chip manufacturing equipment to the list of controlled export items.
The amendment will come into effect on July 23 after a two-month notification period. The newly added 23 items will require separate export licenses. The categories include equipment for wafer cleaning, film formation, heat treatment, exposure, etching, and inspection. Equipment related to extreme ultraviolet (EUV) and 3D-stacked memory are also included. Although China and other specific countries are not explicitly listed in the amendment, they will require separate export licenses. The United States is limiting the export of advanced chip manufacturing equipment to China, and Japan’s move is seen as following in its footsteps.
