Intel stock Dips as US Slaps Restrictions on Chip Sale to China

May 8

Intel Corp (INTC) has revised its current-quarter revenue guidance after the US Department of Commerce revoked certain licenses for exporting certain items to a Chinese company. The move comes amid U.S. alarm at Huawei's ability to develop advanced chips, as demonstrated in the Mate 60 Pro smartphone released in August, despite sweeping export controls introduced in 2022. The revoked licenses are the latest tit-for-tat between Washington and Beijing over the sale of advanced semiconductors to China by U.S. firms. The Biden Administration has been putting limits on the sale of such chips, citing national security concerns, while last month, China reportedly told its telecom companies to phase out the use of foreign semiconductors.

Intel (INTC) did not disclose who the Chinese company was, but the Financial Times reported that the Biden administration had revoked export licenses that allowed both the U.S. firm and domestic rival Qualcomm (QCOM) to supply chips to Chinese telecom-equipment maker Huawei. The move affects the supply of chips for Huawei’s laptop computers and mobile phones. The move comes amid U.S. alarm at Huawei’s ability to develop advanced chips, as shown in the Mate 60 Pro smartphone released in August, despite sweeping export controls introduced in 2022.

The revoked licenses are the latest tit-for-tat between Washington and Beijing over the sale of advanced semiconductors to China by U.S. firms. The Biden Administration has been putting limits on the sale of such chips, citing national security concerns, while last month, China reportedly told its telecom companies to phase out the use of foreign semiconductors. Intel shares were down 2.9% at $29.80 on Wednesday afternoon after the company said it expects revenue for the second quarter to remain in the range of $12.5 billion to $13.5 billion, but below the midpoint. Intel (INTC) shares have lost nearly 38% so far this year.