© Archyde.com. U.S. and China’s semiconductor regulations… Korea sighed, but concerns remain
The U.S. Department of Commerce announced on the 7th a measure to ban the sale of advanced U.S. semiconductor equipment to China and to restrict the export of semiconductor chips used in artificial intelligence (AI) and supercomputers. However, foreign companies such as Samsung Electronics (KS:) and SK Hynix (KS:), which are not US companies, have decided to decide whether to restrict exports through individual screening. The Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said, “The impact on the domestic industry is limited.” Although direct damage was avoided in the domestic semiconductor industry, it is pointed out that there are still factors of anxiety such as delays in screening and concerns regarding technology leakage.
The U.S. Department of Commerce requires U.S. companies to obtain a license to sell semiconductor equipment to Chinese companies that make chips above a certain performance level. Permission is subject to △18nm (nanometer·1nm = 1 billionth of a meter) or less DRAM △128-layer or more NAND flash △logic chip (16nm to 14nm) using FinFET technology. The Ministry of Commerce also included high-performance semiconductor chips used in AI and supercomputers as well as semiconductor equipment in the export restrictions to China, and required the US government to review existing semiconductor equipment repairs and replacement parts. Accordingly, there is concern that every move of Korean semiconductor companies may be reported to the US government.
The Ministry of Commerce made it possible to impose sanctions, such as export controls, when receiving US support or using technology in the process of semiconductor development and production. However, for foreign companies with production facilities in China, he said, “Unlike American companies, we will decide whether to restrict exports through an individual review.” Among Korean companies, Samsung Electronics operates a NAND flash plant and a semiconductor back-end (packaging) plant in China, and SK Hynix operates a DRAM plant, a back-end process plant, and a NAND plant, respectively.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said in a press release that “the high-tech computing chips subject to export restrictions are not produced in Korea, so there will be no short-term impact. In addition, SK Hynix’s Wuxi plant and Samsung Electronics’ Xi’an plant, which are operating in China, are classified as subject to review by case, unlike Chinese companies, so there will be no significant disruption to equipment supply.”
A Samsung official said, “Samsung will do its best to ensure smooth operation of its Chinese factories in consultation with governments of each country.” SK hynix said, “We will work closely with the government to prepare the necessary procedures and documents to secure individual US permits.”
Washington = Correspondent Jeong In-seol/Reporter Lee Ji-hoon [email protected]
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