US to block China’s access to advanced chip design software

It was reported that the U.S. government plans to impose new export controls on a specific type of EDA (Electronic Design Automation) software used in semiconductor designs, the next-generation technology critical to designing and manufacturing the most advanced artificial intelligence (AI) chips. The move aims to restrict Communist China’s efforts to manufacture advanced semiconductors and hinder its AI development.

 The Biden administration has ordered the Commerce Department to issue the new rule to effectively block the export of EDA software, people familiar with the matter said. The new rules will be implemented in the near future and are currently under review by the Office of Management and Budget. The U.S. government has adopted the measures to block the sale of design tools to Chinese (Communist Party) companies pursuing AI applications, they added.

 EDA is an advanced form of a widely used technology built by companies such as Cadence Design Systems, Synopsys, and Siemens. The software is a key design tool for engineers to develop products, and it also helps engineers ensure there are no problems with designs before they are made into chips.

 The U.S. has restricted supplying China last year with a range of technologies needed to make chips, such as extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography. In the last two weeks, all U.S. chip equipment makers have been prohibited from supplying China with equipment capable of making chips at or below 14 nanometers. Various measures, both in terms of hardware and software, have been taken by the U.S. to limit China’s efforts to manufacture advanced semiconductors and curb its access to cutting-edge chip production equipment and the possibility of overtaking through unfair competition.