Japan EU Semiconductor Security Alliance Signed, China Semiconductor Fuel Export Restriction 'Head-to-head'
Japan and the European Union (EU) signed a security alliance with semiconductors, and China announced a semiconductor fuel export control policy, turning the semiconductor war into a confrontation between Japan and China.
Japan signed a memorandum of understanding with the European Commission on the 4th to establish an "early warning mechanism" for semiconductor cooperation, and adopted a policy of strengthening security cooperation and maritime security and advanced semiconductor cooperation as a joint statement at the bilateral summit on the 13th.
The draft of the joint statement with the EU released by Yomiuri on the 4th includes the Indo-Pacific joint warning exercise to strengthen the maritime warning capabilities of Southeast Asian countries in the policy of strengthening security cooperation.
In the joint statement, Yomiuri announced plans to take steps to lay the groundwork for the drafting of the "EU-Japan Strategic Partnership" document as a cooperative policy to reduce China's dependence on important products such as advanced semiconductors in the field of economic security.
Members of the Breton European Commission who visited Japan will sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) Nishimura on the 4th for semiconductor cooperation.
The Brittany commissioner came to Korea on the 29th of last month and met with Ahn Deok-geun, head of the Trade Negotiation Headquarters.
Regarding the semiconductor MOU with Europe, Yomiuri said, "It will specify cooperation in research and development of next-generation semiconductors and human resource development," and "the goal is to establish cooperation and establish a long-term and sustainable relationship."
The Chinese government announced on the 3rd that it would control the export of gallium and germanium-related products, which are raw materials for semiconductors and other products, from August 1st.
China's Ministry of Commerce announced on the same day that it had "complied with export control laws to protect national security," and announced countermeasures against the US, Japan, and Europe-led strengthening of export controls against China in the high-tech semiconductor field.
"Since China accounts for most of the world's gallium production, semiconductor manufacturers' production in several countries, including Japan, may be affected in the future," said Yomiuri. Germanium-related materials include metallic germanium.”
China enforced the export control law in 2020, applied encryption technology in addition to gallium and germanium to the license system, and imposes administrative penalties and criminal liability for exports without permission or exports exceeding the permitted scope.
In the enactment of the Economic Security Promotion Act last year, the Japanese government designated semiconductors as 'specified essential products', and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry began financial support for Japanese semiconductor-related companies.
Earlier in May, the Japanese government agreed with the United States to jointly establish a next-generation semiconductor development roadmap.
Japan's next-generation semiconductor policy is domestic production of the 2-nanometer generation 'Rapidus' cutting-edge semiconductor, and the cutting-edge semiconductor is scheduled to be used for artificial intelligence (AI) and supercomputers.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy of Korea opened the 'Materials, Parts and Equipment Industry Supply Chain Center' on the 16th of last month to try to support supply chain stabilization.
The ‘Special Act on Materials and Equipment’ enacted in May stipulates that the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Energy select items that are highly dependent on imports from a specific country or have a large impact on the domestic economy as ‘supply chain stability items’.
The EU previously enacted the Core Raw Materials Act (CRMA), which regulates the expansion of production capacity in Europe, such as batteries, semiconductors, and minerals.
Prior to Japan, the member of the Breton Commission came to Korea on the 29th of last month, met with the head of the Trade Negotiation Headquarters Ahn Deok-geun, and held a press conference on the 30th.