U.S. Reps. John Moolenaar (R-MI) and Bill Huizenga (R-MI) on April 2 signed on as cosponsors of a bipartisan bill to close gaps in export controls on semiconductor manufacturing equipment (SME).
The Multilateral Alignment of Technology Controls on Hardware (MATCH) Act, H.R. 8170, which is sponsored by U.S. Rep. Michael Baumgartner (R-WA), has eight other original cosponsors, including U.S. Rep. John Mannion (D-NY).
“The bipartisan MATCH Act will close loopholes, create a level playing field for U.S. and allied toolmakers, and ensure the next decade of growth in chip manufacturing — and the jobs that come with it — happens in the United States and allied countries, not China,” said Rep. Moolenaar, chairman of the U.S. House Select Committee on China.
“Semiconductor manufacturing equipment is a crucial advantage we have against China’s military and technological ambitions, and as the Select Committee recently documented in a bipartisan investigation, China exploited loopholes in current export controls to buy chip-making equipment tools as part of its strategy to dominate in chips,” he added. “There is an urgent need to pass this bipartisan legislation and protect our advantage in chip making.”
If enacted, H.R. 8170 would prohibit the sale of the most essential chipmaking equipment to any destination inside a country of concern, according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers.
Additionally, the bill would make tighter restrictions on Chinese facilities: ChangXin Memory Technologies, Hua Hong, Huawei, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp., and Yangtze Memory Technologies Corp., including all subsidiaries and affiliates.
“As the chairman of the House subcommittee overseeing export controls, I’ve seen how China is exploiting access to American and allies chipmaking equipment to modernize its military and pursue global AI dominance,” Rep. Huizenga said. “The bipartisan MATCH Act advances the security, economic prosperity, and technological leadership of the United States by protecting critical chipmaking equipment from the Chinese Communist Party.”
The bill also would apply entity-list-like restrictions on exports, servicing, and technical support to these facilities of all items subject to the Export Administration Regulations.
Likewise, H.R. 8170 would support diplomatic negotiations with deadlines for aligning controls, and includes a National Security Waiver if additional time is required.
Among other provisions, the bill would ensure that controls would apply uniformly to U.S. and allied countries, in the interests of collective national security. If allies cannot demonstrate progress within the 150-day deadline, the act would direct the U.S. Department of Commerce to implement controls unilaterally, the summary says.
“The MATCH Act safeguards the tools, technology, jobs, and know-how that will keep the United States ahead of China and at the leading edge of the 21st century technologies the world depends on,” said Rep. Mannion.
The measure has been endorsed by the Silverado Policy Accelerator, the Foundation for American Innovation, the American Enterprise Institute, the Council on Foreign Relations, the National Security Council, American Compass, and FDD Action.
U.S. Sens. Pete Ricketts (R‑NE) and Andy Kim (D‑NJ) are introducing companion legislation in the Senate.