China-US Economic Ties

Micron Probe Fuels Fears of US Businesses in China

 

Leaders from a top US business lobbying group said on Wednesday that Beijing’s probe against US-based chipmaker Micron marked a “major concern” for other companies operating in the country.

In the absence of data or “real evidence showing that Micron’s products provided or stood as an example of a particular vulnerability to China,” the probe suggests other companies or industries could be singled by Beijing based on unclear suspicions, Lester Ross, chair of the policy committee at the American Chamber of Commerce in China (AmCham China), said.

“It is a major concern because China lacks transparency in many conventions of law and policy, and this is one,” Ross said.

 

Also on AF: South Korea Asked Not to Fill Chip Gap if China Bans Micron

 

Late in March, China’s cyberspace regulator said it would conduct a cybersecurity review of products sold by Micron Technology to “prevent hidden risks and safeguard national security.”

Micron has said it would cooperate with the probe and that its shipments and operations in China remain unaffected.

The review comes amid a wave of export restrictions from Washington in 2022 that targeted China’s chip sector.

 

US-China relations worry

Ross’ comments came during a media roundtable after the release of the Beijing-based chamber’s survey on business sentiment, which collected responses from 109 American companies operating in China over the period of April 18-20 of this year.

The survey results showed respondents were more optimistic about the business outlook in China compared to the previous survey conducted in late 2022, before the government lifted Covid-19 controls.

However, more companies are concerned that worsening US-China relations will affect operations. About 87% of respondents stated they were at least slightly pessimistic about the two countries’ bilateral relationship, up 14 percentage points from the previous poll.

Michael Hart, president of AmCham China, said the survey showed that American companies feel the overall environment for investment in China is becoming less predictable than before.

 

  • Reuters, with additional editing by Vishakha Saxena

 

Also read:

 

China Raids Office of US Due Diligence Firm, Detains Staff

 

US Has No Plan to ‘Decouple’ with China, Yellen Says

 

China Slaps Deloitte With $31m Fine Over Huarong Audit

 

Top China Dealmaker Bao Fan Disappears

 

China Planning Ten-Fold Increase in Some Cyber Law Fines

 

China Cybersecurity Rules Seen as Big Risk For Finance Firms

 

Vishakha Saxena

Vishakha Saxena is the Multimedia and Social Media Editor at Asia Financial. She has worked as a digital journalist since 2013, and is an experienced writer and multimedia producer. As a trader and investor, she is keenly interested in new economy, emerging markets and the intersections of finance and society. You can write to her at vishakha.saxena@asiafinancial.com

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