"U.S., Mature Process Semiconductor Unfair Acts"...Trade Survey Implications

China has indicated that it will investigate anti-dumping and anti-subsidy for U.S.-made mature process semiconductor products, taking issue with "U.S. unfair competition."

"For some time, there is an opinion in the Chinese semiconductor industry that the Biden administration has provided large subsidies to the semiconductor industry, giving U.S. companies an unfair competitive advantage, and that it has damaged the legal rights and interests of Chinese domestic industries by selling mature process semiconductors to China at low prices," a spokesperson for China's commerce ministry said in a statement on the ministry's website.

"The concerns of China's domestic industry are normal and we also have the right to apply for a trade relief investigation," he added.

"The investigating agency will examine the applications and demands of domestic industries in accordance with Chinese laws and regulations of the World Trade Organization, and will open an investigation in accordance with the law," a Commerce Department spokesman said.

Mature process semiconductors, also called general-purpose semiconductors, are semiconductors used in various products such as automobiles and home appliances, and use technology that is lower in technology and price than advanced semiconductors used in artificial intelligence.

If China launches a related investigation and leads to anti-dumping and anti-subsidy measures, U.S. companies such as Intel, which make a significant portion of their profits by selling mature process semiconductors to China, could be affected, Reuters said.

The Chinese Commerce Department's policy comes after the U.S. government launched an investigation into unfair trade practices against Chinese mature process semiconductors last month.