US Approves 2026 Chip Equipment Licenses for Samsung, SK Hynix in China

The U.S. government has approved annual licenses for South Korean companies Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix to import American-made chip manufacturing equipment to their facilities in China throughout 2026, according to two people familiar with the matter. The decision, announced on Tuesday, provides temporary continuity for the firms' operations amid tightening export restrictions.

The licenses come as a previous exemption, known as validated end-user status, expires on December 31. Under this status, Samsung, SK Hynix, and Taiwan-based TSMC had been allowed to receive U.S. chipmaking tools without individual export permits, despite broad restrictions on shipments to China. After the expiration, all such imports to the companies' Chinese factories will require specific U.S. export licenses. One of the sources indicated that the U.S. has introduced this annual approval process to manage exports of chipmaking equipment to China more closely.

The move reflects ongoing U.S. efforts to restrict China's access to advanced American technology. Earlier this year, the government revoked license waivers for certain tech companies, signaling a broader review of export controls. Officials...