On April 26, 2024, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) announced plans to expand Japan’s export control list to include quantum computing-related technologies alongside additional semiconductor items. The new controls would require export licenses for cryogenic CMOS circuits used in quantum computers, quantum computers themselves, scanning electron microscopes, and gate-all-around (GAAFET) transistor technology.
According to reporting by Bloomberg, the license requirements would apply to shipments to all countries, including preferred trading partners such as South Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan. METI stated that the changes were designed to better oversee exports of components with military applications, consistent with global trends.
The amendments were promulgated on July 8, 2024, and went into effect on September 8, 2024. These additions represented the third round of export control expansion in less than two years, following Japan’s June 2023 restrictions on 23 types of semiconductor manufacturing equipment.