Washington's probe into Chinese chips questioned

A trade investigation recently launched by the Joe Biden administration into China's production of older computer chips has raised many questions about the motivation behind the US probe.

The older semiconductors, collectively called legacy chips, are widely used in automotive products, military weaponry, medical devices, dishwashers, aerospace, telecommunications, power generation and the electrical grid.

The investigation's results could lead to new tariffs or other measures that could block the products from entering the United States, a decision that will be left to the incoming Donald Trump administration.