How New Proposed US Restrictions on Chip-Making Equipment will Affect Africa

Some senior officials in the Trump administration have put forward new measures to restrict the global supply of chips to Huawei Technologies, at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic impacts economic growth around the world.

Under the proposed rule change, foreign companies that use U.S. chip-making equipment would be required to obtain a U.S. license before supplying certain chips to Huawei.

Analysts say this could backfire on U.S. companies as the latter will develop their own supply chain. A report by the Boston Consulting Group states further escalation in U.S. export control to Huawei will result in, and end U.S leadership in the semiconductor sector and will consequently decouple US and Chinese technology industries.

Driving Force of Development

The semiconductor industry is widely recognised as a key driver and enabler for the whole electronics value chain. With an expanding tech industry and a growing innovation culture, Africa has proved its potential to be a competitive force in technology in the future. So this unilaterally proposed change of rules by the U.S. could hurt Africa’s fast-growing technology industry.

In 2019, the global market for semiconductors was projected to shrink by 12% due to growing economic uncertainties from the U.S.-China trade war. This year’s COVID-19 pandemic is further shaking up the global semiconductor industry. A new IDC report says the semiconductor industry will fall by 6%.

The proposed move, backed by some U.S. officials, will create more uncertainties in the global semiconductor sector, which we see as the centrepiece of ICTs that transform society for the better.

These technologies which enable new technologies like artificial intelligence, 5G and the Internet of Things, have been playing a critical role in Africa’s social-economic development. When the COVID-19 pandemic is behind us, ICTs and digital economy will also play a crucial role in economic recovery.

Not Allowed to Cook in your own Kitchen with an American pan

If we look closely at the proposed change of rules, we can see that it aims for imposing restrictions of the use of equipment that has already been sold. This will severely undermine the basic principles of international trade. The post-sale rules change will ultimately erode trust in the global supply chain, nullifying established norms and regulations overnight. Needless to say, Africa will also be the victim.

The global semiconductor value chain has taken decades to build. Semiconductor modules are highly interdependent, and no company or country can build up a comprehensive supply chain on their own.

If these new rules were to take effect, even if merely one piece of US-origin equipment, say a screwdriver purchased from the US years ago, was used at any step in the production of chips, chipmakers outside of the US would have to seek approval from the US government.

By way of example, this is equivalent to saying one could not be allowed to make face masks during the coronavirus pandemic, because a pair of American scissors was used in the mask production line. This situation will further deteriorate the already hard-hit global economy, when we are in urgent need of an open, collaborative, and stable global value chain.

Africa must have a Share in 4IR

According to a report by Deloitte, the global semiconductor industry looks set to ramp up growth well into the next decade due to emerging technologies such as autonomous driving, artificial intelligence (AI), 5G and Internet of Things, coupled with consistent spending on R&D and competition among key players.

The global semiconductor sector market offers Africa opportunities not to be missed. With a massive growth in technology hubs across the continent, growing over 50% in the last several years, Africa needs to have a share in the global semiconductors industry, to secure its competitiveness in the future.

• Edison Xie is director of Media Affairs, Huawei Southern Africa Region