Washington, Feb 11 (NationPress) Senior US lawmakers have urged the Biden administration to address “critical gaps” in export controls on semiconductor manufacturing equipment to hinder China from acquiring advanced chipmaking tools that could enhance its military and artificial intelligence capabilities.

In a bipartisan letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, House Select Committee on China Chairman John Moolenaar and House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast emphasized the necessity for “robust export controls” and enhanced collaboration with allies.

They stated that export controls on semiconductor manufacturing equipment (SME) represent “one of America's most significant points of leverage” in the strategic competition against the People's Republic of China.

“These tools are essential not only for producing the advanced AI chips that will shape the future of both economic and military power, but also for manufacturing the legacy chips that go into PLA weapons systems and intelligence platforms,” the lawmakers wrote. “Maintaining restrictions on this equipment is critical to US national security.”

The letter also received signatures from House Foreign Affairs Ranking Member Meeks, South and Central Asia Subcommittee Chairman Bill Huizenga, Ranking Member Sydney Kamlager-Dove, and Congressmen Greg Stanton, Michael Baumgartner, and Johnny Olszewski.

The lawmakers pointed out that SME controls have been a bipartisan priority throughout various administrations. They highlighted initiatives during the first Trump administration to urge the Netherlands to limit exports of extreme ultraviolet lithography tools to China. They also referred to expanded controls under the Biden administration.

“This continuity reflects a shared recognition across party lines that protecting America's semiconductor advantage is essential to our national security,” the letter noted.

Despite advancements, they cautioned that “critical gaps persist” in the export control framework. They expressed concern that certain foreign-produced chokepoint equipment is only controlled for specific Chinese entities rather than applying nationwide.

“Entity-specific controls, while valuable, cannot substitute for countrywide restrictions on the most critical chokepoint tools,” the lawmakers stated. They added that once equipment is in China, the US government has “extremely limited ability to enforce end-use and end-user restrictions.”

Referencing a recent bipartisan report titled Selling the Forges of the Future and a House hearing on “Export Control Loopholes: Chipmaking Tools and their Subcomponents,” the lawmakers indicated that China has “significantly accelerated imports of foreign-produced chokepoint equipment” in recent years.

They observed that Dutch sales to China of advanced lithography equipment doubled from 2022 to 2023, and again from 2023 to 2024. Recent reports also suggest that China may be upgrading imported tools to surpass export control thresholds.

“Each chokepoint tool that enters China represents a permanent loss of American leverage,” the letter warned.

The lawmakers urged the administration to encourage allies to impose nationwide controls on key chokepoint semiconductor equipment and subcomponents, including those “that China cannot produce indigenously.” They also called for “clear and reasonable deadlines,” after which the United States should be ready to take action independently if necessary.

“The window to secure America's semiconductor advantage is narrowing,” they concluded, requesting a briefing on the administration’s strategy within the next month.

The discussion surrounding chip export controls has intensified as Washington considers semiconductor technology crucial for both economic competitiveness and national security. The US has tightened restrictions on advanced chips and manufacturing tools recently, aiming to impede China’s capacity to develop state-of-the-art AI systems and military technologies.

The Netherlands and Japan, significant players in the semiconductor supply chain, have collaborated with Washington on specific restrictions. However, differences persist regarding the extent and enforcement of controls, particularly as China aims for greater self-sufficiency in advanced chipmaking.