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| Washington boosts production of advanced electronic chips to compete with China |
The United States is intensifying its efforts to prevent China from advancing in the production of advanced semiconductors. After nearly two years of Washington's stringent restrictions on Beijing in this field, the Biden administration is now considering imposing additional measures aimed at blocking China from accessing new technologies in chip manufacturing.
According to a report by "Bloomberg" obtained by "GolavioAPK" the U.S. administration is rushing to issue new restrictions before the November 2024 elections, aiming to prevent China from using gate-all-around (GAA) or GAA-FET technology, an innovative approach that promises to make semiconductors more advanced.
A Technological Siege on China
It remains uncertain when Washington will make its decision regarding the new restrictions, but the clear objective is to block China from accessing GAA-FET technology, which is still an emerging technology not yet commercially available. This move is intended to slow down Beijing's ability to develop advanced computing systems.
The U.S. Department of Commerce recently sent a draft of the new GAA-FET restrictions to the Technical Advisory Committee for feedback, a final step before officially implementing the new regulations. However, there have been criticisms that the draft lacks clarity on whether it aims to prevent China from developing its own GAA-FET chips or to stop American companies from selling GAA-FET products to China.
Major companies like Nvidia, Intel, and AMD, along with manufacturing partners like TSMC and Samsung, are planning to start mass-producing GAA-designed chips next year. China was expected to be one of the main buyers of these chips, leading to a decline in the stocks of these companies when the report was published.
The Battle for Chip Dominance
Analyst Alan Al-Qarrah points out that the chip war between Washington and Beijing has become a central element of the geopolitical and trade tensions between the two countries. Both are vying for control over this crucial industry, which plays a fundamental role in enabling artificial intelligence technologies.
Understanding GAA-FET Technology
Al-Qarrah explains that most current chips are manufactured using the older Fin-FET technology, while GAA-FET represents a significant leap in chip production, allowing for chips that are 40% smaller with 30% higher performance. This advancement will make electronic devices faster and more energy-efficient, highlighting why the U.S. is keen on restricting this technology from reaching China.
The Reasons Behind the Expected U.S. Decision
Telecommunications engineer Issa Saadeddin states that the potential decision to block China from accessing GAA-FET technology is part of the ongoing U.S. efforts to cripple China's semiconductor industry, ensuring that the U.S. maintains its strategic lead in this sector, which is vital for military, security, and economic superiority.
He suggests that the urgency in implementing the GAA-FET restrictions before the upcoming presidential elections may be tied to electoral competition. The Biden administration seeks to demonstrate its commitment to national security in the face of China, while former President Donald Trump emphasizes his success in confronting the Chinese threat. Saadeddin also notes that China's primary challenge is not in overcoming U.S. restrictions on chip manufacturing but in the intensity and frequency of these restrictions, which create significant obstacles to China's ability to access advanced semiconductor technologies.