Beijing bans Chinese companies from using Micron chips in critical infrastructure

China’s cybersecurity regulator has banned Chinese companies from buying chips from US memory maker Micron Technology. The China Cyberspace Administration (CAC) said Sunday that it found the company’s products pose “significant security risks” to China’s critical information infrastructure, including state-owned banks and telecom operators. The ban comes after China announced a review of Micron’s imports in late March in a move seen at the time as retaliation for sanctions imposed by Washington on Chinese chipmakers in recent years.

Micron, headquartered in Idaho, is the largest manufacturer of memory in the United States. The Chinese market accounts for about 10 percent of the company’s annual revenue, although the majority of companies that import Micron products into China are device manufacturers for sale in other parts of the world. according to The Wall Street JournalThe CAC ban does not apply to non-Chinese companies in China. “We’re evaluating the conclusion and evaluating our next steps,” Micron said . “We look forward to continuing to engage in discussions with the Chinese authorities.” The CAC did not say which Micron products would be affected by the ban, nor did it share details about security concerns it had with the company’s chips.

The ban is the latest development in the escalating dispute over semiconductor technology between the United States and China. In recent months, the Biden administration has moved to restrict its rival’s access to advanced chipmaking equipment. In January, US, Dutch, and Japanese officials used lithographic machines from ASL, Nikon, and Tokyo Electron. like the magazine He notes that China has been trying to find ways to strike back at the United States. Micron was an easy target since most Chinese companies can turn to suppliers such as SK Hynix in South Korea to make up any shortfalls caused by the ban.

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