Taiwan Blacklists Huawei and SMIC, Escalating US-China Tech Tensions

Taiwan bans chip exports to Huawei, SMIC -- ban comes after Huawei tricked TSMC into making one million AI processors despite US restrictions

Taiwan's International Trade Administration rubber-stamped the decision to tighten controls. Two of the most important companies behind China's semiconductor self-sufficiency and AI supremacy hopes were dealt a blow on Saturday, with their addition to Taiwan's strategic high-tech commodities entity list. Huawei and SMIC have already been sanctioned by the U.S. but the constriction of supplies from the Silicon Island could prove very meaningful, and impactful. This news also comes in the wake of TSMC being deceived into supplying chiplets to Huawei. Hopefully, stricter government controls will prevent any more similar mistakes. The move by Taiwan's democratically elected government, specifically the Taiwan Commerce Ministry, isn't really surprising given the ongoing trade war sparked by concerns over the weaponizing of cutting edge technologies against western allies. From now on, both Huawei and SMIC will need to arrange export permits with any suppliers based in Taiwan, in order to receive manufactured goods. As entries on Taiwan's blacklist, Huawei and SMIC are nestled among entities such as the Taliban and al-Qaeda, as well as a smorgasbord of other companies and organizations hailing from pariah nations like Iran, Russia, Afghanistan, and North Korea. According to sources like Bloomberg and Taiwan's CNA, neither the newly blacklisted Chinese companies, not Taiwan's economy ministry have shared comments on the new list. Back in November, the U.S. requested that TSMC halted supplies of a range of advanced chips to Chinese customers. We also reported on a huge fine being levied upon TSMC for unknowingly supplying Huawei compute chiplets for its Ascend 910-series AI processor. This weekend's updated entity list might have been precipitated by negations about such matters behind closed doors. Taiwan is home to not only the most famous element of the silicon-shield, TSMC, but a host of other key semiconductor firms working on everything from materials, through to advanced packaging. It isn't just TSMC products that may be cut off from Huawei and SMIC, exports from established industry players like UMC, ASE, SPIL, Nanya, and others will all be subject to the new restrictions. Tom's Hardware also frequently reports on Taiwan's PC industry players, which form the backbone of the industry - the likes of Asus, Gigabyte, MSI, and so on.

Taiwan Imposes Technology Export Controls on Huawei, SMIC

Taiwan has blacklisted Huawei Technologies Co. and Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp., dealing another major blow to the two companies spearheading China's efforts to develop cutting-edge AI chip technologies. Taiwan's International Trade Administration has included Huawei, SMIC and several of their subsidiaries in an update of its so-called strategic high-tech commodities entity list, according to the latest version that was made available on its website on Saturday. It didn't publicly announce the change.

US-China Tech Fight Widens After Taiwan Blacklists Huawei

Taiwan joined a yearslong US campaign to curtail China's technological ascent when it blacklisted the country's AI and chipmaking champions, an unprecedented step that may signal a resurgent effort to isolate its powerful neighbor's semiconductor sector. Taipei this month added Huawei Technologies Co. and its main chipmaker Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. to its entity list, barring the island's firms from doing business with the pair without a license. It was the first time Taiwanese officials have used that blacklist to sanction major Chinese firms, taking a cue from a longstanding US approach of blocking access to advanced technologies.

Taiwan adds China's Huawei, SMIC to export control list

TAIPEI, June 15 (Reuters) - Taiwan's government has added China's Huawei Technologies (HWT.UL) and Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC) (0981.HK), opens new tab to its export control list, which includes other proscribed organisations like the Taliban and al Qaeda. Inclusion on the economy ministry's trade administration's strategic high-tech commodities entity list means Taiwanese companies will need government approval before exporting any products to the companies. The companies were included in an updated version of the ministry's trade administration's website late on Saturday. Neither company nor the economy ministry immediately responded to requests for comment outside of office hours at the weekend. Taiwan is home to TSMC (2330.TW), opens new tab, the world's largest contract chipmaker and a major supplier of chips to AI darling Nvidia (NVDA.O), opens new tab. Both Huawei and SMIC have been working hard to catch up in the chip technology race. Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory despite the strong objections of Taipei's government, already has tight chip export controls when it comes to Taiwanese companies either manufacturing in the country or supplying Chinese firms. Huawei, which is at the centre of China's AI ambitions, is on a U.S. Commerce Department trade list that essentially bars it from receiving U.S. goods and technology, as well as foreign-made goods such as chips from companies like TSMC made with U.S. technology. Last October, TechInsights, a Canadian tech research firm, took apart Huawei's 910B AI processor and found a TSMC chip in it. The multi-chip 910B is viewed as the most advanced AI accelerator mass-produced by a Chinese company. TSMC suspended shipments to China-based chip designer Sophgo, whose chip matched the one in the Huawei 910B and, in November the U.S. Commerce Department ordered TSMC to halt shipments of more chips to Chinese customers. Taiwan's government has also repeatedly vowed to crack down on what it says are efforts by Chinese companies, including SMIC, to steal technology and entice chip talent away from the island. SMIC is China's largest chipmaker and has ramped up investment to expand production capacity and strengthen China's domestic semiconductor capability in the face of sweeping U.S. export controls. Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Lincoln Feast. Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab Suggested Topics:Artificial Intelligence

Taiwan adds China's Huawei and SMIC to export control list

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) -- Taiwan's Commerce Ministry has added Chinese chipmakers Huawei Technologies and Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC) to its export control list, as trade and technology frictions between the self-ruled island, China and the United States increase. Inclusion on the "strategic high-tech commodities" list means Taiwanese companies will need to obtain export permits before selling goods to the respective companies. Other entities on the list include organizations such as the Taliban and al-Qaeda, as well as other companies in China, Iran and elsewhere. The export control entities list was last updated on Sunday. Neither Huawei nor SMIC initially commented on their inclusion. Huawei and SMIC have both been sanctioned by the U.S. The two companies are producing China's most advanced homegrown artificial intelligence chips in an effort to compete with U.S.-based Nvidia and supply Chinese tech firms with the much-needed chips amid export curbs. Taiwan is home the world's largest chipmaker, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), a major supplier for Nvidia. Last November, the U.S. ordered TSMC to halt supplies of certain advanced chips to Chinese customers as part of broader efforts to restrict China's access to cutting-edge technologies. China claims self-ruled Taiwan as its own territory, to be annexed by force if necessary. The U.S. is Taiwan's biggest unofficial ally and arms seller.

Taiwan blacklists China's Huawei and SMIC, further aligning with U.S. trade policy

The U.S. has placed major chip export restrictions on Huawei and Chinese firms over the past few years. This has cut off companies' access to critical semiconductors. Taiwan has added China's Huawei and SMIC to its trade blacklist in a move that further aligns it with U.S. trade policy and comes amid growing tensions with Beijing. The International Trade Administration of Taiwan added Huawei and SMIC to its "Strategic High-Tech Commodities Entity List," including a host of their subsidiaries. Taiwan's current regulations require licenses from regulators before domestic firms can ship products to parties named on the entity list. Huawei and SMIC, two of China's leading semiconductor companies, are also on a trade blacklist in the United States and have been impacted by Washington's sweeping controls on advanced chips. Companies such as contract chipmaker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co already follow U.S. export restrictions. However, the addition of Huawei and SMIC to the Taiwan blacklist is likely aimed at the reinforcement of this policy and a tightening of existing loopholes, Ray Wang, an independent semiconductor and tech analyst, told CNBC. He added that the new domestic export controls could also raise the punishment for any potential breaches in the future. TSMC had been embroiled in controversy in October last year when semiconductor research firm TechInsights found a TSMC-made chip in a Huawei AI training card. Following the discovery, the U.S. Commerce Department ordered TSMC to halt Chinese clients' access to chips used for AI services, according to a report from Reuters. TSMC could also reportedly face a $1 billion as penalty to settle a U.S. investigation into the matter. Huawei has been working to create viable alternatives to Nvidia's general processing units used for AI. However, experts say the company's advancement has been limited by export controls and a lack of scale and advancement in the domestic chip ecosystem. Still, Huawei had been able to acquire several million GPU dies from TSMC for its Ascend chip design by using previous loopholes before they were discovered, according to Paul Triolo, partner and senior vice president for China at advisory firm DGA-Albright Stonebridge Group. A die refers to a small piece of silicon material that serves as the foundation for building processors and contains the intricate circuitry and components necessary to perform computations. The Taiwanese government's crackdown on exports to SMIC and Huawei also comes amid tense geopolitical tensions with Mainland China, which regards the democratically governed island as its own territory to be reunited by force, if necessary. In April, the U.S. reaffirmed its commitment to support the existing status quo as China conducted large-scale military exercises off the coast of the island. In statements reported by state media on Sunday, China's top political adviser Wang Huning echoed Beijing's position, calling for the promotion of national reunification with Taiwan and for resolute opposition to Taiwan independence.

Taiwan joins chip war escalation, blocks exports to Huawei and SMIC

Serving tech enthusiasts for over 25 years. TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust. What just happened? Taiwan has imposed sweeping new export controls on two of China's most critical technology firms, Huawei Technologies and SMIC, thereby escalating a high-stakes battle over the future of advanced semiconductors and artificial intelligence. The move, announced by Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs and approved by the International Trade Administration, places both companies on the strategic high-tech commodities entity list, a roster that includes organizations such as the Taliban, al-Qaeda, and sanctioned entities from Iran, Russia, and North Korea. This designation means that any Taiwanese company wishing to export goods to Huawei or SMIC must now obtain a special permit. The controls are designed to prevent the unregulated transfer of sensitive technologies that could have military applications, reflecting mounting concerns in Taipei and among its Western allies about the potential misuse of cutting-edge chips. Both Huawei and SMIC have already been targeted by extensive US sanctions that severely restricted their access to American technology. However, Taiwan's new restrictions strike at the heart of China's efforts to achieve semiconductor self-sufficiency and compete globally in artificial intelligence. As the world's leading hub for advanced chip manufacturing, Taiwan's decision is expected to have a far-reaching impact, potentially cutting off Chinese firms from the sophisticated components and manufacturing expertise they need to develop next-generation AI processors. The urgency behind these measures has been heightened by recent revelations that Huawei allegedly used shell companies to circumvent US export controls, securing the production of two million advanced AI chips from TSMC for its Ascend 910-series processors. The Taiwanese government's updated entity list, released over the weekend, is widely seen as a direct response to such incidents, aiming to close loopholes and reinforce compliance among local manufacturers. The ramifications of Taiwan's export controls extend well beyond TSMC. The island's semiconductor ecosystem includes other major players such as UMC, ASE, SPIL, and Nanya Technology, all of which will now face tighter scrutiny and potential barriers to doing business with the blacklisted Chinese firms. Neither Huawei nor SMIC has issued a public response to their inclusion on the list, which comes amid ongoing trade tensions and a broader push by the United States to limit China's access to advanced semiconductor technology. As the global chip war intensifies, Taiwan's latest move signals a determination to safeguard its technological edge while aligning more closely with Western export control regimes.

Taiwan adds China's Huawei and SMIC to export control list

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) -- Taiwan's Commerce Ministry has added Chinese chipmakers Huawei Technologies and Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC) to its export control list, as trade and technology frictions between the self-ruled island, China and the United States increase. Inclusion on the "strategic high-tech commodities" list means Taiwanese companies will need to obtain export permits before selling goods to the respective companies. Other entities on the list include organizations such as the Taliban and al-Qaeda, as well as other companies in China, Iran and elsewhere. The export control entities list was last updated on Sunday. Neither Huawei nor SMIC initially commented on their inclusion. Huawei and SMIC have both been sanctioned by the U.S. The two companies are producing China's most advanced homegrown artificial intelligence chips in an effort to compete with U.S.-based Nvidia and supply Chinese tech firms with the much-needed chips amid export curbs. Taiwan is home the world's largest chipmaker, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), a major supplier for Nvidia. Last November, the U.S. ordered TSMC to halt supplies of certain advanced chips to Chinese customers as part of broader efforts to restrict China's access to cutting-edge technologies. China claims self-ruled Taiwan as its own territory, to be annexed by force if necessary. The U.S. is Taiwan's biggest unofficial ally and arms seller.

Taiwan adds China's Huawei and SMIC to export control list

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Taiwan's Commerce Ministry has added Chinese chipmakers Huawei Technologies and Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC) to its export control list, as trade and technology frictions between the self-ruled island, China and the United States increase. Inclusion on the "strategic high-tech commodities" list means Taiwanese companies will need to obtain export permits before selling goods to the respective companies. Other entities on the list include organizations such as the Taliban and al-Qaeda, as well as other companies in China, Iran and elsewhere. The export control entities list was last updated on Sunday. Neither Huawei nor SMIC initially commented on their inclusion. Huawei and SMIC have both been sanctioned by the U.S. The two companies are producing China's most advanced homegrown artificial intelligence chips in an effort to compete with U.S.-based Nvidia and supply Chinese tech firms with the much-needed chips amid export curbs. Taiwan is home the world's largest chipmaker, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), a major supplier for Nvidia. Last November, the U.S. ordered TSMC to halt supplies of certain advanced chips to Chinese customers as part of broader efforts to restrict China's access to cutting-edge technologies. China claims self-ruled Taiwan as its own territory, to be annexed by force if necessary. The U.S. is Taiwan's biggest unofficial ally and arms seller.

Taiwan Adds China's Huawei and SMIC to Export Control List

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) -- Taiwan's Commerce Ministry has added Chinese chipmakers Huawei Technologies and Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC) to its export control list, as trade and technology frictions between the self-ruled island, China and the United States increase. Inclusion on the "strategic high-tech commodities" list means Taiwanese companies will need to obtain export permits before selling goods to the respective companies. Other entities on the list include organizations such as the Taliban and al-Qaeda, as well as other companies in China, Iran and elsewhere. The export control entities list was last updated on Sunday. Neither Huawei nor SMIC initially commented on their inclusion. Huawei and SMIC have both been sanctioned by the U.S. The two companies are producing China's most advanced homegrown artificial intelligence chips in an effort to compete with U.S.-based Nvidia and supply Chinese tech firms with the much-needed chips amid export curbs. Taiwan is home the world's largest chipmaker, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), a major supplier for Nvidia. Last November, the U.S. ordered TSMC to halt supplies of certain advanced chips to Chinese customers as part of broader efforts to restrict China's access to cutting-edge technologies. China claims self-ruled Taiwan as its own territory, to be annexed by force if necessary. The U.S. is Taiwan's biggest unofficial ally and arms seller. Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Taiwan adds China's Huawei, SMIC to export control list

Taiwan added China's Huawei and SMIC to its export control list, requiring government approval for tech exports to them. The move tightens restrictions amid concerns over tech theft and growing U.S. pressure, as Taiwan seeks to safeguard its chip industry and national security.Taiwan's government has added China's Huawei Technologies and Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC) to its export control list, which includes other proscribed organisations like the Taliban and al Qaeda. Inclusion on the economy ministry's trade administration's strategic high-tech commodities entity list means Taiwanese companies will need government approval before exporting any products to the companies. The companies were included in an updated version of the ministry's trade administration's website late on Saturday. Neither company nor the economy ministry immediately responded to requests for comment outside of office hours at the weekend. Taiwan is home to TSMC, the world's largest contract chipmaker and a major supplier of chips to AI darling Nvidia. Both Huawei and SMIC have been working hard to catch up in the chip technology race. Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory despite the strong objections of Taipei's government, already has tight chip export controls when it comes to Taiwanese companies either manufacturing in the country or supplying Chinese firms. Huawei, which is at the centre of China's AI ambitions, is on a U.S. Commerce Department trade list that essentially bars it from receiving US goods and technology, as well as foreign-made goods such as chips from companies like TSMC made with US technology. Last October, TechInsights, a Canadian tech research firm, took apart Huawei's 910B AI processor and found a TSMC chip in it. The multi-chip 910B is viewed as the most advanced AI accelerator mass-produced by a Chinese company. TSMC suspended shipments to China-based chip designer Sophgo, whose chip matched the one in the Huawei 910B and, in November the US Commerce Department ordered TSMC to halt shipments of more chips to Chinese customers. Taiwan's government has also repeatedly vowed to crack down on what it says are efforts by Chinese companies, including SMIC, to steal technology and entice chip talent away from the island. SMIC is China's largest chipmaker and has ramped up investment to expand production capacity and strengthen China's domestic semiconductor capability in the face of sweeping US export controls.

Taiwan adds China's Huawei and SMIC to export control list

Taiwan has escalated its restrictions on technology exports to China by adding Huawei and SMIC to its export control list, alongside entities like the Taliban. This move requires Taiwanese companies to seek government approval before supplying any products to these firms.Taiwan has added China's Huawei Technologies and Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC) to its export control list, which includes other proscribed organisations like the Taliban and al Qaeda. Inclusion on the economy ministry's trade administration's strategic high-tech commodities entity list means Taiwanese companies will need government approval before exporting any products to the companies. The companies, both at the centre of China's chip and artificial intelligence (AI) ambitions, were included in an updated version of the ministry's trade administration's website. Neither company responded to requests for comment outside of office hours at the weekend. In a statement on Sunday, the ministry's trade administration said it had recently held a meeting to review the entity list, and "based on the prevention of arms proliferation and other national security considerations" updated it on June 10. A total of 601 entities were added, including Huawei and SMIC, along with entities from Russia, Pakistan, Iran, Myanmar, and China, it said. "Manufacturers must comply with export control regulations, fulfil their verification obligations and carefully assess transaction risks," it added. Taiwan is home to TSMC, the world's largest contract chipmaker and a major supplier of chips to AI darling Nvidia. Both Huawei and SMIC have been working hard to catch up in the chip technology race. Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory despite the strong objections of Taipei's government, already has tight chip export controls when it comes to Taiwanese companies either manufacturing in the country or supplying Chinese firms. Huawei is on a U.S. Commerce Department trade list that essentially bars it from receiving U.S. goods and technology, as well as foreign-made goods such as chips from companies like TSMC made with U.S. technology. Last October, TechInsights, a Canadian tech research firm, took apart Huawei's 910B AI processor and found a TSMC chip in it. The multi-chip 910B is viewed as the most advanced AI accelerator mass-produced by a Chinese company. TSMC suspended shipments to China-based chip designer Sophgo, whose chip matched the one in the Huawei 910B and, in November the U.S. Commerce Department ordered TSMC to halt shipments of more chips to Chinese customers. Taiwan's government has also repeatedly vowed to crack down on what it says are efforts by Chinese companies, including SMIC, to steal technology and entice chip talent away from the island. SMIC is China's largest chipmaker and has ramped up investment to expand production capacity and strengthen China's domestic semiconductor capability in the face of sweeping U.S. export controls.

Taiwan Blacklists Huawei And SMIC, Citing National Security -- Manufacturers Must Carefully Assess 'Transaction Risks' As US-Led Chip War With China Intensifies - NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA), Taiwan Semiconductor (NYSE:TSM)

On Sunday, Taiwan added Chinese tech giants Huawei Technologies and Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. (SMIC) to its strategic export control list, signaling escalating efforts to restrict Beijing's access to advanced chip technologies. What Happened: Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs updated its strategic high-tech commodities entity list on June 10, adding 601 entities -- including Huawei and SMIC -- alongside organizations from Russia, Iran and Myanmar, reported Reuters. The ministry cited "the prevention of arms proliferation and other national security considerations" as the reason behind this development. The updated list was published on the ministry's trade administration website and includes references to terrorist groups like the Taliban and al-Qaeda. See Also: Analyzing NVIDIA In Comparison To Competitors In Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment Industry "Manufacturers must comply with export control regulations, fulfil their verification obligations and carefully assess transaction risks," the statement read. Why It's Important: Taiwan is home to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. TSM, the world's largest contract chipmaker and a key supplier to global firms like Nvidia Corporation NVDA. Adding Huawei and SMIC to the blacklist reflects growing concerns over Chinese firms allegedly stealing intellectual property and poaching chip talent from Taiwan. Today's Best Finance Deals Both companies are at the center of China's ambitions to build a self-reliant semiconductor supply chain amid sweeping U.S. export restrictions. The move aligns with Washington's efforts to choke off China's access to high-end chips and AI technologies, especially those involving U.S.-origin tools and software. Earlier this week, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang announced the company will exclude China from future revenue and profit forecasts due to U.S. export restrictions. Nvidia had to halt shipments of its China-specific H20 AI chips, leading to a $2.5 billion revenue loss in the first quarter. While the company anticipated a $5.5 billion hit from excess inventory, it ended up recording a $4.5 billion charge. Benzinga's Edge Stock Rankings indicate that Nvidia continues to show robust upward momentum across short, medium and long-term timeframes. Additional performance metrics can be accessed here. Read More: 'Most People Don't Have The B**ls To Do It,' Says Mark Cuban, Praising Musk For Going 'All In' With His Own Money For His Startups Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors. Image Via Shutterstock NVDANVIDIA Corp$141.80-2.21%Stock Score Locked: Want to See it? Benzinga Rankings give you vital metrics on any stock - anytime. Reveal Full ScoreEdge RankingsMomentum69.76Growth98.63QualityNot AvailableValue7.10Price TrendShortMediumLongOverviewTSMTaiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd$210.83-2.14%Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs

U.S.-China tech fight widens after Taiwan blacklists Huawei

Taiwan joined a yearslong U.S. campaign to curtail China's technological ascent when it blacklisted the country's AI and chipmaking champions, an unprecedented step that may signal a resurgent effort to isolate its powerful neighbor's semiconductor sector. Taipei this month added Huawei Technologies and China's main chipmaker, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. (SMIC), to its entity list, barring the island's firms from doing business with the pair without a license. It was the first time Taiwanese officials have used that blacklist to sanction major Chinese firms, taking a cue from a longstanding U.S. approach of blocking access to advanced technologies. The move also marks Taipei's first public action on semiconductor restrictions since Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te pledged in April to address unspecified concerns from Washington about export controls. U.S. President Donald Trump's administration has urged Taipei to take more ownership over chip restrictions on China, people familiar with the matter said, with a particular focus on the enforcement of existing curbs. They requested anonymity as they weren't authorized to speak publicly.

Taiwan adds China's Huawei, SMIC to export control list

TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan's government has added China's Huawei Technologies and Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC) to its export control list, which includes other proscribed organisations like the Taliban and al Qaeda. Inclusion on the economy ministry's trade administration's strategic high-tech commodities entity list means Taiwanese companies will need government approval before exporting any products to the companies. The companies were included in an updated version of the ministry's trade administration's website late on Saturday. Neither company nor the economy ministry immediately responded to requests for comment outside of office hours at the weekend. Taiwan is home to TSMC, the world's largest contract chipmaker and a major supplier of chips to AI darling Nvidia. Both Huawei and SMIC have been working hard to catch up in the chip technology race. Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory despite the strong objections of Taipei's government, already has tight chip export controls when it comes to Taiwanese companies either manufacturing in the country or supplying Chinese firms. Huawei, which is at the centre of China's AI ambitions, is on a U.S. Commerce Department trade list that essentially bars it from receiving U.S. goods and technology, as well as foreign-made goods such as chips from companies like TSMC made with U.S. technology. Last October, TechInsights, a Canadian tech research firm, took apart Huawei's 910B AI processor and found a TSMC chip in it. The multi-chip 910B is viewed as the most advanced AI accelerator mass-produced by a Chinese company. TSMC suspended shipments to China-based chip designer Sophgo, whose chip matched the one in the Huawei 910B and, in November the U.S. Commerce Department ordered TSMC to halt shipments of more chips to Chinese customers. Taiwan's government has also repeatedly vowed to crack down on what it says are efforts by Chinese companies, including SMIC, to steal technology and entice chip talent away from the island. SMIC is China's largest chipmaker and has ramped up investment to expand production capacity and strengthen China's domestic semiconductor capability in the face of sweeping U.S. export controls. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Lincoln Feast.)

Taiwan adds China's Huawei and SMIC to export control list

TAIPEI (Reuters) -Taiwan has added China's Huawei Technologies and Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC) to its export control list, which includes other proscribed organisations like the Taliban and al Qaeda. Inclusion on the economy ministry's trade administration's strategic high-tech commodities entity list means Taiwanese companies will need government approval before exporting any products to the companies. The companies, both at the centre of China's chip and artificial intelligence (AI) ambitions, were included in an updated version of the ministry's trade administration's website. Neither company responded to requests for comment outside of office hours at the weekend. In a statement on Sunday, the ministry's trade administration said it had recently held a meeting to review the entity list, and "based on the prevention of arms proliferation and other national security considerations" updated it on June 10. A total of 601 entities were added, including Huawei and SMIC, along with entities from Russia, Pakistan, Iran, Myanmar, and China, it said. "Manufacturers must comply with export control regulations, fulfil their verification obligations and carefully assess transaction risks," it added. Taiwan is home to TSMC, the world's largest contract chipmaker and a major supplier of chips to AI darling Nvidia. Both Huawei and SMIC have been working hard to catch up in the chip technology race. Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory despite the strong objections of Taipei's government, already has tight chip export controls when it comes to Taiwanese companies either manufacturing in the country or supplying Chinese firms. Huawei is on a U.S. Commerce Department trade list that essentially bars it from receiving U.S. goods and technology, as well as foreign-made goods such as chips from companies like TSMC made with U.S. technology. Last October, TechInsights, a Canadian tech research firm, took apart Huawei's 910B AI processor and found a TSMC chip in it. The multi-chip 910B is viewed as the most advanced AI accelerator mass-produced by a Chinese company. TSMC suspended shipments to China-based chip designer Sophgo, whose chip matched the one in the Huawei 910B and, in November the U.S. Commerce Department ordered TSMC to halt shipments of more chips to Chinese customers. Taiwan's government has also repeatedly vowed to crack down on what it says are efforts by Chinese companies, including SMIC, to steal technology and entice chip talent away from the island. SMIC is China's largest chipmaker and has ramped up investment to expand production capacity and strengthen China's domestic semiconductor capability in the face of sweeping U.S. export controls. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Lincoln Feast and Giles Elgood)