US Scholars Urge Tighter Chip Export Curbs on China, Propose 'MATCH Act'

American scholars are calling on the Trump administration to strengthen controls on semiconductor exports to China, arguing that current measures have loopholes allowing Beijing to produce advanced chips using older technology. Ryan Fedasiuk and Julia Torres, researchers at the American Enterprise Institute, advocate for the "MATCH Act" as the central pillar of future tech regulations against China.

Despite U.S. and allied success in blocking exports of advanced EUV (Extreme Ultraviolet) lithography machines since 2019, China is circumventing restrictions. Companies like Huawei are reportedly using older DUV (Deep Ultraviolet) equipment combined with multi-patterning techniques to manufacture 7nm and even 5nm chips. SMIC, China's leading chip manufacturer, has been producing 7nm chips since 2022 and 5nm chips using this method, albeit at a significantly higher cost and lower yield compared to industry leaders like TSMC.

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The MATCH Act should become the core of the next wave of tech controls on China.

The scholars propose three non-negotiable components for the MATCH Act. First, a complete ban on new DUV equipment sales to China to prevent capacity expansion. Second, prohibiting ASML engineers and parts suppliers from servicing equipment already in China, recognizing that lithography machines require specialized maintenance. Third, designating Huawei and SMIC as restricted end-users through legislation to prevent future administrations from easing controls through diplomatic negotiations.

Fedasiuk and Torres highlight that cutting off repair services could be the most damaging "killer move" against China's existing chip production capabilities. However, they also caution against rushing allies like the Netherlands and Japan into full compliance, as their companies heavily rely on the Chinese market. They stress that the U.S. still has a critical window to slow China's semiconductor advancement, warning that missing this opportunity could reshape the global AI industry.

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Cutting off repair services is more likely to directly hit China's existing production capacity, making it the 'key killer move' to restrict China's semiconductor development.