Joe Biden softens, Samsung can send chips to China
Photo: AFP/SAUL LOEB
- The technology war between China and the United States (US) continues. Joe Biden's administration has restricted exports of advanced chip manufacturing equipment to China since the end of last year.
This not only applies to US companies, but also companies in allied countries such as South Korea, Japan and the Netherlands.
However, the Japanese government seems to be starting to soften. South Korean chip giants, Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, are allowed to supply equipment from the US to their manufacturing facilities in China.
"Uncertainties about South Korean semiconductor firms' operations and investments in China are now starting to soften. They can now set long-term global management strategies," said the President's Senior Secretary for Economic Affairs, Choi Sang-mok, quoted by Reuters, Tuesday (10/10/ 2023).
The US has notified Samsung and SK Hynix of the decision. This was conveyed directly in the official statement from the US Ministry of Trade (Kemendag).
Samsung and SK Hynix are included in the list of 'validated' firms, meaning they do not need to have US permission to export US-made chips to China.
Samsung and SK Hynix, which are the first and second largest chip manufacturers in the world, have invested billions of US dollars in China for semiconductor production facilities.
"Through coordination with relevant governments, uncertainty regarding our semiconductor manufacturing operations in China has now been resolved," Samsung said in its official statement.
Meanwhile, SK Hynix said "we welcome the US administration's decision to extend permits related to export control policies. We believe this decision will stabilize global semiconductor supplies".
Samsung Electronics makes about 40% of its NAND chips at its factories located in China. Meanwhile, SK Hynix makes 40% of its DRAM chips in Wuxi and 20% of its NAND chips in Dalian.
TrendForce reports that Samsung and SK Hynix control 70% of the global DRAM chip market and 50% of the global NAND chip market by the end of June 2023.
Joe Biden Melunak, Samsung Boleh Kirim Chip ke China
Foto: AFP/SAUL LOEB
- Perang teknologi antara China dan Amerika Serikat (AS) masih terus berlanjut. Pemerintahan Joe Biden melakukan pembatasan ekspor alat manufaktur chip canggih ke China sejak akhir tahun lalu.
Bukan cuma berlaku untuk perusahaan AS, tetapi juga perusahaan di negeri sekutu seperti Korea Selatan, Jepang, dan Belanda.
Namun, pemerintahan Jepang sepertinya mulai melunak. Raksasa chip asal Korea Selatan, Samsung Electronics dan SK Hynix, diizinkan menyuplai alat dari AS ke fasilitas pabrik mereka di China.
"Ketidakpastian tentang operasional dan investasi firma semikonduktor Korea Selatan di China kini mulai melunak. Mereka kini bisa menetapkan strategi manajemen global jangka panjang," kata Sekretaris Senior Presiden untuk Bidang Ekonomi, Choi Sang-mok, dikutip dari Reuters, Selasa (10/10/2023).
AS telah memberitahu Samsung dan SK Hynix soal keputusan tersebut. Hal tersebut disampaikan langsung dalam keterangan resmi Kementerian Perdagangan (Kemendag) AS
Samsung dan SK Hynix dimasukkan dalam daftar firma 'tervalidasi', artinya mereka tak perlu mengantongi izin AS untuk melakukan ekspor alat chip buatan AS ke China.
Samsung dan SK Hynix yang merupakan pabrikan chip terbesar pertama dan kedua di dunia telah menginvestasikan miliaran dollar AS ke China untuk fasilitas produksi semikonduktor.
"Melalui koordinasi dengan pemerintahan terkait, ketidakpastian tentang operasional manufaktur semikonduktor kami di China kini sudah teratasi," kata Samsung dalam keterangan resminya.
Sementara itu, SK Hynix mengatakan "kami menyambut keputusan pemerintahan AS untuk memperpanjang izin terkait kebijakan kontrol ekspor. Kami yakin keputusan ini akan menstabilkan pasokan semikonduktor global".
Samsung Electronics membuat sekitar 40% chip NAND di pabriknya yang terletak di China. Sementara itu, SK Hynix membuat 40% chip DRAM di Wuxi dan 20% chip NAND di Dalian.
TrendForce melaporkan Samsung dan SK Hynix menguasai 70% pasar chip DRAM global dan 50% pasar chip NAND global hingga akhir Juni 2023.