The US adds 14 Chinese technology companies to its export control list, including SOPHGO, which sold TSMC semiconductors to Huawei

The United States regards China's AI research as a military threat and has severely restricted the export of high-performance semiconductors to China. It has been revealed that the US Department of Commerce has added 16 companies, including 14 Chinese companies, to the ' Entity List (a list of companies subject to trade restrictions) .'

Commerce Strengthens Restrictions on Advanced Computing Semiconductors to Enhance Foundry Due Diligence and Prevent Diversion to PRC | Bureau of Industry and Security
https://www.bis.gov/press-release/commerce-strengthens-restrictions-advanced-computing-semiconductors-enhance-foundry

Federal Register :: Public Inspection: Additions to the Entity List
https://www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection/2025-00480/additions-to-the-entity-list

Companies on the Entity List will not be able to import high-performance semiconductors from the U.S. The U.S. government is also calling for foreign companies that use 'U.S.-made semiconductor manufacturing equipment' to restrict exports to Chinese companies.

In October 2024, it was discovered that semiconductors made by TSMC, the world's largest semiconductor contract manufacturing company based in Taiwan, were being used in AI chips made by Huawei, a Chinese company listed on the Entity List. Subsequent investigations revealed the possibility that Huawei had obtained TSMC semiconductors through the Chinese company SOPHGO, which has also been added to the Entity List in this update.

Immediately after it was reported that TSMC's semiconductors were used in Huawei's AI chips, TSMC stopped shipments to the Chinese company SOPHGO, and it is possible that SOPHGO was acting as an intermediary to make semiconductors - GIGAZINE

The 14 Chinese companies newly added to the Entity List are:
・Chengdu Suanze Technology Co., Ltd.,
・Fujian Sophon Technology Co., Ltd.,
・Fujian Suanxin Technology Co., Ltd.,
・Jiangsu Suanxin Technology Co., Ltd.,
・Qingdao Sophgo Technology Co., Ltd.,
・Quliang Electronics Co., Ltd.,
・Shanghai Suanhu Technology Co., Ltd.,
・Sophgo Technologies Ltd.,
・Sophon Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd.,
・Suanli (Fujian) Technology Co., Ltd.,
・Tianjin Shunhua Technology Co., Ltd.,
・Wuhan Suanneng Technology Co., Ltd.,
・Wuxi Suanneng Technology Co., Ltd.,
・Xiamen Sophgo Technologies Limited.

In addition, the following two Singapore-based companies have been added to the Entity List:
・Sophgo Technologies Pte. Ltd., and
・PowerAir Pte. Ltd.

The complete entity list can be found at the following link:

eCFR :: Supplement No. 4 to Part 744, Title 15 -- Entity List
https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-15/subtitle-B/chapter-VII/subchapter-C/part-744/appendix-Supplement No. 4 to Part 744

Although it has become difficult to obtain high-performance semiconductors through official dealers in China, there are still many brokers operating in China who are bringing high-performance semiconductors into the country through third parties, meaning that high-performance semiconductors remain available.

How Chinese brokers circumvent U.S. regulations to bring AI research chips into China - GIGAZINE