US clears 2026 chip tool shipments to China for Samsung, SK Hynix

SEOUL. South Korea: Washington has approved annual licences allowing South Korea's Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix to ship chipmaking equipment to their factories in China in 2026, two people familiar with the matter said, offering short-term clarity as U.S. export rules tighten.

The approvals provide temporary relief for the companies and come after the United States earlier