Japan’s trade ministry on Tuesday revised an ordinance to tighten export controls on manufacturing equipment for cutting-edge semiconductors.

The revised ministry ordinance will take effect on July 23.

The move comes after the United States, in October last year, tightened restrictions on exports to China of semiconductor manufacturing equipment and technologies that could be diverted for military use.

The United States then called on Japan, as well as the Netherlands, both home to major semiconductor manufacturing equipment makers, to take similar steps.

Japan’s tighter export controls will cover 23 items, including devices to remove impurities generated in the semiconductor manufacturing process and lithography equipment essential for semiconductor production.

The tighter measures will affect about 10 Japanese companies, including Tokyo Electron Ltd.

Each export of any of the items to China will require approval from the ministry.

Meanwhile, Japan will grant simplified export procedures to 42 economies, including the United States, South Korea and Taiwan.

Objecting to the tighter Japanese export controls, China asked the World Trade Organization last month to launch an investigation into the matter.

Before the ordinance revision, the ministry solicited public comments, some of which voiced concerns that the scope of items subject to tighter export controls is so wide that it could cause serious damage to normal economic and trade activities.

JIJI Press