BEIJING, Could 27 (Reuters) – China and South Korea have agreed to strengthen dialogue and cooperation on semiconductor trade provide chains, amid broader world considerations over chip provides, sanctions and nationwide safety, China’s commerce minister mentioned.
Wang Wentao met with South Korean Commerce Minister Ahn Duk-geun on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Financial Cooperation (APEC) convention in Detroit, which ended on Friday.
They exchanged views on sustaining the steadiness of the commercial provide chain and strengthening cooperation in bilateral, regional and multilateral fields, in line with an announcement from the Chinese language Ministry of Commerce on Saturday.
Wang additionally mentioned that China is keen to work with South Korea to deepen commerce ties and funding cooperation.
Nonetheless, a South Korean assertion on the identical assembly didn’t point out chips, as an alternative saying the nation’s commerce minister had requested China to stabilise the provision of key uncooked supplies, and requested for a predictable enterprise atmosphere for South Korean corporations in China.
“The South Korean aspect expressed that communication is required between working-level officers over all industries”, not only for semiconductors, a supply with data of the matter advised Reuters.
The supply declined to be recognized as a result of they weren’t authorised to talk to the media.
South Korea is within the crosshairs of a tit-for-tat row between the US and China over semiconductors.
China’s our on-line world regulator mentioned final week that Micron (MU.O) had failed its community safety evaluate and that it will block operators of key infrastructure from shopping for from the corporate.
The U.S. has pushed for international locations to restrict China’s entry to superior chips, citing a number of causes together with nationwide safety.
About 40% South Korea’s chip exports go to China, in line with commerce ministry information, whereas U.S. know-how and gear are obligatory for South Korean chipmakers Samsung Electronics (005930.KS) and SK Hynix (000660.KS).
Reporting by Ella Cao and Bernard Orr, and Joyce Lee in Soeul; Modifying by Kim Coghill
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