Trump intends to ban Intel, Samsung and SK Hynix from using American technologies in China

The administration of Donald Trump plans to lift the exceptions for Intel, Samsung and SK Hynix, which allowed companies to use American technology in their enterprises in China. This step will be another restriction on Beijing's access to modern semiconductor manufacturing equipment.

So far, companies have enjoyed exemptions under the "verified end user" rules, which allowed them to import equipment without issuing new licenses. Now these exceptions will be lifted, and corporations will have to request permission for each case.

According to a notice in the U.S. Federal Register, the transition period will be 120 days, after which the exclusions will expire. At the same time, manufacturers will be able to apply for new licenses to continue operating in China.

Samsung and SK Hynix are particularly vulnerable, as much of their memory chip manufacturing capacity is concentrated in China.

The exceptions were introduced back in 2023 by the Joe Biden administration to give South Korean manufacturers the opportunity to maintain and expand their factories. In fact, this was a circumvention of the restrictions in force at that time on the supply of equipment to China for the production of advanced chips.