Overview
- The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security said the penalty equals twice the transaction value and ranks as its second‑largest export‑control fine.
- Officials detailed 56 unlicensed shipments of ion implanters in 2021–2022 valued at about $126 million to China’s SMIC via Applied Materials Korea.
- SMIC was added to the U.S. Entity List in December 2020, triggering license requirements for certain U.S.-origin semiconductor tools.
- Applied Materials said the Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission closed related investigations without taking action.
- As part of the settlement, the company agreed to compliance audits and annual certifications and said it will refocus on executing its technology roadmap.