Bipartisan US senators question Intel over testing chipmaking tools tied to ACM Research units on US blacklist
The Facts
- A bipartisan group of six US senators sent a letter to Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan seeking information and raising concerns about Intel’s relationship with ACM Research and Intel’s reported testing of ACM-made chipmaking tools.
- The lawmakers said they have national security concerns that testing or operating ACM tools in Intel facilities could expose sensitive or cutting-edge chipmaking processes and potentially allow information to flow to Chinese customers.
- ACM Research is a California-based maker of semiconductor manufacturing equipment that multiple reports describe as having deep roots or significant ties to China.
- Two ACM overseas units have been targeted by US sanctions, and ACM subsidiaries remain on the Commerce Department blacklist (Entity List) following a 2024 listing cited as being for national security reasons.
- Lawmakers cited ACM’s customer relationships with sanctioned Chinese companies, including YMTC and SMIC, as part of their concerns.
- Intel said in a statement that ACM tools are not used in Intel’s semiconductor production processes and that Intel complies with US laws and regulations and engages regularly with the US government on security matters.
Context
What exactly are lawmakers asking Intel about?
In their letter to CEO Lip-Bu Tan, the senators pressed Intel for more information about its relationship with ACM Research and raised concerns about Intel’s reported testing of ACM chipmaking tools, citing potential national security risks if ACM gains exposure to Intel’s advanced manufacturing processes. Investing.com Bloomberg Business
Why is ACM Research a focus of US national security concerns?
Reports cited by lawmakers say ACM has deep ties to China and that two of its overseas units have been targeted by US sanctions and remain on a Commerce Department blacklist; lawmakers also pointed to ACM’s customers that include sanctioned Chinese chipmakers such as YMTC and SMIC. Investing.com Bloomberg Business
How has Intel responded to the concerns?
Intel said ACM tools are not used in Intel’s semiconductor production processes, and that Intel fully complies with US laws and regulations and communicates regularly with the US government on security matters. UDN Economic Times
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