US Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves has assured South Korean chipmakers, including Samsung and SK Hynix, of taking steps that enable these companies to operate smoothly in China. Credit: Shutterstock At a time when the US and China are embroiled in a chip war, the former has assured South Korean chipmakers, including Samsung and SK Hynix, that it is planning to extend a waiver that enables these firms to manufacture chips in China. ”We understand the concerns that companies have and we’ll do everything that we can to make sure that companies are able to continue to conduct their business,” US Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves was quoted saying by the Yonhap News Agency, during his two-day visit to Seoul to attend bilateral cooperation talks between the two nations. South Korean chipmakers with factories in China had received a waiver for one year from the US government after the US put restrictions on exports of certain advanced semiconductor manufacturing items to China last October, in an effort to thwart’s Beijing technology prowess. These chipmakers, who want an extension to the waiver before the October deadline closes, are dependent on the US as the country controls the supply lines for some critical technology and items needed for manufacturing chips. The US is expected to allow these Korean chipmakers to place their case for a continued waiver in the coming days, according to the report. Currently, Samsung operates a NAND flash-producing plant in China’s Xian and a semiconductor packaging factory in Suzhou. SK Hynix, on the other hand, manufactures most of its DRAM chips at a plant in the Chinese city of Wuxi along with other plants at multiple locations. US and China still at war for tech supremacy Neither the US nor China is showing any signs of backing out of the chip war or the extended struggle to gain technology prowess over the other. Last month, US President Joe Biden ratcheted up the technology trade war with China, issuing an executive order to restrict investments in several sectors, including semiconductors and AI. The US first imposed restrictions on the exports of chips to China in 2015, extending them in 2021 and twice in 2022. The most recent restrictions were introduced in December. US lawmakers have also been urging the Biden administration to take more action to impede China’s progress in gaining dominance in areas such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing. The suggestions included imposing trade restrictions on Chinese memory chipmaker Changxin Memory Technologies as a counteroffensive to China banning the use of Micron’s chips. In January, the US convinced the Netherlands and Japan to join it in expanding the ban on exports of chipmaking technology to China. In a counteroffensive, Beijing, too, restricted the export of two metals required for manufacturing semiconductors, mostly used in electric vehicles, displays, and defense equipment. Related content news analysis Apple earnings: About that iPhone 'slump' in China Based on information from Thursday's earnings report, it seems that data pointing to an iPhone slump in China were over-baked. By Jonny Evans May 03, 2024 9 mins iMac iPhone Apple news Microsoft begins to phase out ‘classic’ Teams Microsoft is encouraging Teams customers to move to the new, faster version of the collaboration app; the older version will be switched off next year. By Matthew Finnegan May 03, 2024 3 mins Microsoft Teams Collaboration Software Productivity Software news analysis Apple confirms it will open up the iPad in Europe this fall The latest efforts to comply with Europe’s Digital Markets Act mean developers can offer to side load apps to both iPhones and iPads in the EU. Apple has also taken steps to improve what it offers to smaller and non-commercial developers in the By Jonny Evans May 02, 2024 6 mins iPad Apple Mobile Apps news Udacity offers laid-off US workers free access to its courses for 30 days Sign-ups will be available over the next 30 days By Lucas Mearian May 02, 2024 4 mins Technology Industry IT Jobs IT Skills Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe