Taiwan adds Huawei, SMIC to export control list

Taipei, June 16 (CNA) The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) confirmed Sunday it has added Chinese firms Huawei Technologies Co. and Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. (SMIC) to its updated Strategic High-Tech Commodities (SHTC) Export Control Entity list.

According to a Bloomberg News report on Sunday, Taiwan has placed restrictions on Huawei and SMIC to limit the two Chinese companies' ability to develop cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) chip technologies.

Later on Sunday, the MOEA's International Trade Administration (ITA) issued a statement confirming that, based on concerns over national security, it has added 601 entities from countries such as Pakistan, Iran, Myanmar and China linked to weapons proliferation to the SHTC list released on June 10.

The MOEA noted that Taiwanese companies will need ITA approval before exporting any products to the companies on the list.

In addition, customs will assist in enforcing border inspections, and if any company attempts to export to these entities without permission, customs will block the shipment, the ministry said.

The ITA added that it regularly holds interagency review meetings to update the SHTC Export Control List in accordance with the Foreign Trade Act.

These updates reference sanction and control lists from the United Nations Security Council and allied countries. To date, a total of 10,844 entities and individuals have been placed on the list, according to the ITA.