Taiwan includes Huawei and SMIC from China in its export control list.

TAIPEI – Taiwan’s Commerce Ministry has decided to include Chinese chipmakers Huawei Technologies and Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC) on its export control list. This move comes as trade tensions and technological disputes escalate between Taiwan, China, and the United States.

Being categorized under “strategic high-tech commodities” signifies that Taiwanese companies must now secure export permits before engaging in any transactions involving the mentioned companies. The list also encompasses entities like the Taliban, al-Qaeda, along with various firms from China, Iran, and other regions.

The export control entities list was last updated on Sunday. Neither Huawei nor SMIC initially commented on their inclusion.

Both Huawei and SMIC have faced sanctions from the U.S. due to their involvement in producing China’s most sophisticated domestically developed artificial intelligence chips. This effort aims to rival U.S.-based Nvidia and cater to the chip requirements of Chinese tech companies amidst restrictions on exports.

Taiwan is home the world’s largest chipmaker, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), a major supplier for Nvidia.

Last November, the U.S. ordered TSMC to halt supplies of certain advanced chips to Chinese customers as part of broader efforts to restrict China’s access to cutting-edge technologies.

China claims self-ruled Taiwan as its own territory, to be annexed by force if necessary. The U.S. is Taiwan’s biggest unofficial ally and arms seller.