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U.S. Considers Annual Chip Supply Approvals for Samsung and SK Hynix China Plants

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The United States is weighing a proposal to require Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix to seek annual approvals for shipping chipmaking equipment and supplies to their China-based factories, Bloomberg reported Monday, citing people familiar with the matter.

The plan, presented by the U.S. Commerce Department to Korean officials last week, would replace the current validated end user (VEU) designations that granted the chipmakers indefinite export authorizations. Those designations are set to expire at the end of 2025.

Under the draft proposal, Samsung and SK Hynix would need yearly approval for specific quantities of restricted tools and materials, adding regulatory steps but ensuring their Chinese fabs can keep operating. The companies are among the largest foreign chipmakers with plants in China, supplying memory chips vital to global electronics.

Reactions in Seoul were mixed—officials expressed relief that a framework for continued operations remains, but concern over the added bureaucratic burden and potential supply chain uncertainties.

The move comes against the backdrop of intensifying U.S.-China semiconductor tensions. Since 2022, Washington has imposed sweeping export controls to curb Beijing’s chip and AI capabilities. The Biden administration had granted waivers to Samsung, SK Hynix, and TSMC to soften the blow to allied companies, but the Trump administration has pushed for tighter oversight.

The situation is further complicated by political strain: Washington revoked prior waivers days after former South Korean President Lee Jae Myung—who advocated a more balanced U.S.-China stance—signed a defense and investment deal with Trump. Recent U.S. immigration raids on Korean firms’ American subsidiaries have also fueled friction.

Nvidia Warns U.S. GAIN AI Act Could Harm Competition, Echoes AI Diffusion Rule

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Nvidia criticized the proposed GAIN AI Act on Friday, warning that it would restrict global competition and hurt the U.S. economy much like last year’s AI Diffusion Rule, which limited the export of high-performance chips.

The Guaranteeing Access and Innovation for National Artificial Intelligence Act, introduced as part of the National Defense Authorization Act, would require AI chipmakers to prioritize domestic orders before fulfilling foreign contracts. Exporters would also need licenses to ship chips above certain performance thresholds, specifically processors rated 4,800 or higher in total computing power.

In a statement, Nvidia argued the law addresses a non-existent issue:

“We never deprive American customers in order to serve the rest of the world. In trying to solve a problem that does not exist, the proposed bill would restrict competition worldwide in any industry that uses mainstream computing chips.”

The Act mirrors the AI Diffusion Rule enacted under President Joe Biden, which rationed computing capacity among allies while cutting off rivals like China. Both measures reflect Washington’s effort to secure U.S. access to advanced silicon and limit China’s AI capabilities, particularly amid concerns about its military applications.

The debate comes just weeks after President Donald Trump struck a deal with Nvidia allowing the company to resume certain AI chip exports to China in exchange for the U.S. government receiving a cut of sales—an unprecedented arrangement underscoring the geopolitical stakes around advanced semiconductors.

If enacted, the GAIN AI Act could reshape the global AI hardware supply chain, tightening U.S. control over who gets access to the most powerful chips.

U.S. to Restrict Chinese Drone and Heavy-Duty Vehicle Imports Over Security Concerns

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The Trump administration is preparing new rules that could restrict or ban imports of Chinese-made drones and medium-to-heavy duty vehicles, citing national security risks tied to foreign technology. The Commerce Department said Friday it expects to issue the regulations as soon as this month but did not provide details on the scope of the restrictions.

Chinese firms currently dominate the U.S. drone market, with DJI alone accounting for over half of all commercial drone sales. Washington has grown increasingly wary of Chinese technology embedded in vehicles and aircraft, warning that onboard computers, communications systems, flight controls, and data storage could expose U.S. infrastructure to espionage or cyberattacks.

The move builds on earlier measures targeting Chinese cars and trucks, with rules finalized in January under the Biden administration that will bar nearly all Chinese-made vehicles from the U.S. by late 2026. The Commerce Department has also opened national security probes into both drones and heavy-duty vehicles, which could pave the way for new tariffs.

Trump has already signed executive orders this year to boost domestic drone manufacturing and harden defenses against “threatening drones.” Meanwhile, Congress passed legislation in December, under Biden, that could eventually ban DJI and Autel from selling new drone models in the U.S.

The latest restrictions underscore bipartisan concern in Washington over supply chain dependence on China, as well as the push to secure strategic sectors like transportation and aerospace against foreign influence.