The United States government has approved an annual export licence for Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix to bring chip manufacturing equipment into their facilities in China through 2026, according to two sources familiar with the matter.
The decision offers temporary relief to the South Korean technology giants and comes months after Washington moved to revoke broad licence waivers previously granted to some global chipmakers operating in China.
One of the sources explained that the U.S. has now introduced an annual approval system for exports of chipmaking tools to China, replacing the earlier blanket exemptions enjoyed by select firms.
Samsung, SK Hynix, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company had benefited from exemptions under Washington’s sweeping restrictions on chip related exports to China. However, that special status, known as validated end user status, is set to expire on December 31. After that date, shipments of U.S. made chip manufacturing equipment to their Chinese plants will require individual export licences.
Samsung and SK Hynix declined to comment on the development, while TSMC did not immediately respond to enquiries. The U.S. Department of Commerce was also unavailable for comment outside business hours.
The move reflects the U.S. government’s continued effort to tighten controls on China’s access to advanced American technology. Under President Donald Trump’s administration, export policies are being re examined amid concerns that earlier measures introduced during the Biden administration were too relaxed.
China remains a key production base for Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, particularly for traditional memory chips. Demand for these chips has surged in recent months, driven largely by the expansion of artificial intelligence data centres and tighter global supply, pushing prices higher.
Industry watchers say the annual licence system underscores Washington’s cautious approach, balancing pressure on China with the need to avoid major disruptions to global semiconductor supply chains.