Samsung Secures US Approval for Annual Chipmaking Tool Shipments to China

• The license represents a shift from previous waiver systems to an annual approval process for chipmaking equipment exports to China
• This follows U.S. threats earlier in the year to revoke existing license waivers for technology companies operating in China
• The approval provides Samsung with continued access to its Chinese manufacturing operations amid ongoing U.S.-China tech tensions

Samsung Electronics has secured a critical annual license from the U.S. government allowing the import of semiconductor manufacturing equipment to its Chinese facilities for 2026, according to sources familiar with the matter.

This approval represents temporary relief for the South Korean tech giant amid heightened U.S.-China trade tensions in the semiconductor sector. The license follows Washington's earlier 2025 decision to revoke blanket waivers previously granted to technology companies operating in China, signaling a shift toward more controlled oversight of chipmaking technology transfers.

The U.S. has introduced a new annual approval system for exports of semiconductor manufacturing tools to China, replacing the previous waiver system. This change reflects ongoing efforts by the U.S. government to limit China's access to advanced chipmaking technology while balancing the operational needs of allied companies with significant manufacturing presence in China.

For Samsung, which operates memory chip production facilities in China, this license is crucial for maintaining operations and upgrading equipment. The annual nature of the approval, however, introduces uncertainty for long-term planning and investment decisions.

The development highlights the continuing challenges faced by global semiconductor companies navigating geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and China. Samsung and other chipmakers must balance their Chinese operations, which serve local and global markets, with increasingly stringent U.S. export controls aimed at protecting technological advantages in the critical semiconductor industry.

Market implications include potential supply chain adjustments and strategic planning considerations for semiconductor companies with Chinese operations, as they adapt to a more regulated environment requiring annual government approvals rather than multi-year waivers.