US Senators Press Intel Over Ties to Firm With Sanctioned Units
Summary
A bipartisan group of six US senators is seeking clarity from Intel Corp. regarding its ties to ACM Research Inc., a semiconductor equipment manufacturer blacklisted by the Commerce Department for national security concerns in 2024.
Key Insights
What is the US Entity List and why was ACM Research added to it?
The US Entity List, maintained by the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), identifies entities posing national security risks, subjecting them to export restrictions. ACM Research's Shanghai and South Korea subsidiaries were added in December 2024 for allegedly supporting China's military and advanced semiconductor efforts, though ACM denies the claims.
Sources:
[1]
What are wet etch tools and their role in Intel's 14A process?
Wet etch tools are semiconductor equipment used to remove material layers from wafers through chemical processes, essential for chip fabrication. Intel tested ACM's wet etch tools for its 14A manufacturing node, a critical next-generation process slated for initial production in 2027.