U.S. Ban on Americans at China Chip Companies Narrower Than Expected

(Bloomberg) — Washington’s restrictions on Americans assisting China’s semiconductor industry will be more narrowly enforced than expected, suggesting a smaller-than-projected impact on integrated circuit companies doing business in the world’s second-largest economy.

The rules seem to mostly target U.S. persons working in certain functions for semiconductor manufacturing equipment makers. That’s based on a document the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) published Friday to clarify export controls announced Oct. 7. The sanctions were introduced to keep cutting-edge chip technologies out of the hands of China’s military. But they amplified uncertainty around the tech industry and wrought havoc on global chip stocks.