EU Research Definition, Mass-Market Exemption Place Exporters at Disadvantage, Chip Official Says
The European Union should better align its definition of “basic scientific research” with the U.S.'s to create a more level playing field under U.S. and EU export regulations, said Aude Jalabert of the European Semiconductor Industry Association. Jalabert, speaking during the EU’s annual export control forum Dec. 8, said the EU’s definition is “stricter and maybe more narrow than some foreign definitions,” and only exempts “very basic technology and research fields.”
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She said the U.S. definition allows researchers to “publish in the public domain more easily,” placing certain EU exporters at a disadvantage. “We would highly appreciate it if the European Union could align with the U.S. authority on a common concept to reduce the gap between our two countries,” Jalabert said.
She also urged the EU to expand the list of dual-use exports covered under its mass-market exemption, which excepts certain widely available consumer goods from export restrictions. EU member states often interpret the exemption differently, Jalabert said, which leads to different export classifications and licensing requirements, depending on the country.
Not only has this led to confusion among EU exporters, but she also said it places them at a disadvantage compared with foreign exporters that have a “broader definition and concept” of mass market. “We would like to strongly encourage the European Union to consider extending the mass-market exemption to other dual-use categories,” Jalabert said.