英媒：美政府批准韩企向中国出口芯片制造设备

Core Viewpoint - Samsung and SK Hynix have received U.S. approval to export chip manufacturing equipment to China in 2026, following a temporary easing of restrictions after the U.S. revoked certain export license exemptions earlier this year [1][3]. Group 1: U.S. Export Policy Changes - The U.S. previously allowed Samsung, SK Hynix, and TSMC to benefit from exemptions under the "Verified End User (VEU)" system, which enabled these companies to import controlled semiconductor equipment without separate export license applications [3]. - In August, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced the revocation of the exemptions for Samsung and SK Hynix, requiring them to obtain export licenses for U.S. equipment used in their Chinese factories starting December [3]. - The U.S. has modified its policy to allow Samsung and SK Hynix to export chip equipment to their Chinese factories with annual approvals, simplifying the process compared to the previous case-by-case licensing [3][4]. Group 2: Implications for Korean Companies - The new system, while stricter than the VEU, reduces uncertainty for Korean companies operating factories in China compared to the previous case-by-case approval process [4]. - However, the limitation of the new system is the difficulty in accurately predicting the annual equipment and component needs [4].