The Malaysian government has just announced new regulations that require businesses to have a special commercial license when importing artificial intelligence (AI) chips originating from the US.
According to the announcement published in the government newspaper, transactions related to AI chips from the US will be controlled more strictly. Enterprises need to apply for a license before buying and selling, in order to strengthen the management of commercial activities related to high-tech products.
This regulation was issued in the context that many countries are adjusting their trade and technology policies to adapt to the rapidly changing international environment.
In recent times, the US has applied many export control measures for advanced chips and semiconductor manufacturing equipment, focusing on adjusting the flow of technology to specific markets. Many opinions say that these policies may affect countries deeply involved in the global semiconductor supply chain.
Malaysia is currently one of the important linkages in the semiconductor industry, accounting for about 13% of the total global trade turnover in this field. Major corporations such as Intel and Globalfoundries all have factories here. In recent years, Malaysia has also attracted significant investment flows from large enterprises such as Infineon (Germany) and TSMC (Taiwan).
Malaysia has previously expressed concern that trade restrictions could disrupt global supply chains. However, the new regulation shows that the country is adjusting its policy towards strengthening control over high-tech trade activities, while ensuring a stable role in the international semiconductor supply chain.
