U.S.-China trade tensions are again making news this week, but there is no shortage of other updates. Among them, the introduction of the new Arm Cortex-R82, a 64-bit, Linux-capable processor targeted at next-generation enterprise and computational storage solutions It provides up to 2x performance uplift compared to previous Cortex-R generations, depending on the workload. Let’s now move to more weekly news updates.

U.S. Government reportedly considering whether to add SMIC to a blacklist

According to news agency Reuters, the Trump administration is considering whether to add Chinese foundry SMIC to a trade blacklist of companies, which would force U.S. suppliers of semiconductor manufacturing equipment to seek a license before shipping to the company. Reportedly, U.S. Government agencies are investigating to assess if SMIC has a relationship to the Chinese military. SMIC has responded to these media reports with a press release declaring that “the Company manufactures semiconductors and provides services solely for civilian and commercial end-users and end-uses. We have no relationship with the Chinese military. In and before 2016, SMIC had been granted Validated End-User (VEU) authorization by the BIS (Bureau of Industry and Security) and the company hosted several visits from U.S. Government officials. Any assumptions of the Company’s ties with the Chinese military are untrue statements and false accusations.” The SMIC statement concludes by declaring that “The Company is in complete shock and perplexity to the news. Nevertheless, SMIC is open to sincere and transparent communication with the U.S. Government agencies in hope of resolving potential misunderstandings.”
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