The move provides temporary relief for the South Korean firms following Washington’s earlier decision this year to revoke licence waivers previously granted to certain technology companies. According to one source, the U.S. has introduced an annual approval system for exports of chipmaking tools to China.
Previously, Samsung, SK Hynix, and TSMC had benefited from exemptions under the so-called validated end user status, which allowed them to import American chipmaking equipment without individual licences. This status is set to expire on December 31, after which shipments to their Chinese factories will require explicit U.S. export licences.
Both Samsung and SK Hynix declined to comment on the development, while TSMC did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The U.S. Department of Commerce was unavailable for comment outside business hours.
The policy comes amid U.S. efforts to limit China’s access to advanced technology. The Trump administration began re-examining export controls it considered too permissive under the Biden administration, particularly regarding advanced semiconductor technology.
China remains a key production base for South Korea’s top memory chipmakers. Samsung Electronics, the world’s largest memory chip producer, and second-ranked SK Hynix rely on their Chinese facilities for traditional memory chips. Prices for these chips have surged recently due to rising demand from AI data centers and tightened supply chains.