Trump Administration aims to strengthen chip controls on China, Bloomberg reports

The Trump administration is planning to further tighten semiconductor export restrictions on China, Bloomberg News reported on Monday, as part of a broader effort to curtail Beijing's technological capabilities-a policy move that builds on measures first put in place under the Biden administration.

According to sources cited by Bloomberg, U.S. officials recently held discussions with their counterparts in Japan and the Netherlands regarding new measures that would restrict engineers from Tokyo Electron and ASML from maintaining semiconductor production equipment in China. Additionally, some officials on the Trump team are reportedly seeking to impose stricter limits on the quantity and types of Nvidia chips that can be exported to China without a license.

“The goal is for our key allies to align with the U.S. in enforcing these controls, much like the restrictions already applied to American chip equipment manufacturers such as Lam Research, KLA, and Applied Materials,” the sources said.

Officials from Nvidia and Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) declined to comment on the reported plans, and representatives from Tokyo Electron, ASML, the White House, and the Dutch foreign trade ministry have yet to respond to Reuters’ inquiries.

The proposed measures signal a further escalation in U.S. efforts to limit China’s access to advanced semiconductor technologies, which are critical for military and commercial applications alike. The Trump administration’s push to involve key allies underscores the importance of a coordinated approach in the global semiconductor supply chain as geopolitical tensions continue to shape technology trade policies.

While the restrictions aim to protect U.S. technological leadership, industry observers note that tightening controls could have significant implications for global supply chains and market dynamics in the semiconductor sector. As negotiations and policy discussions continue, stakeholders around the world will be closely watching how these new measures impact both technological innovation and international trade.

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