Samsung and other Korean companies get US approval to bring chip-making tools into China

The US government has approved annual export licences to allow Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix to ship chipmaking equipment to their China facilities throughout 2026. A Reuters report, citing people familiar with the decision, said the approvals came just before a long-standing waiver system expired, marking a shift to a more restrictive licensing framework for foreign-owned fabs in China. Under the new system, the US has formally moved to annual approvals for chipmaking tool exports into China, replacing the validated end-user status that Samsung, SK Hynix and TSMC previously enjoyed. The yearly licences must be renewed each calendar year, the Reuters report claimed.