The Nvidia H200 export saga, as it happened — Beijing ponders response and buyers line up
These approvals are critical for both South Korean giants because China remains at the core of their memory production businesses. Samsung operates its large NAND flash facility in Xi’an, while SK hynix runs a major DRAM fab in Wuxi and a NAND plant in Dalian. Collectively, those sites account for a substantial share of global memory output, particularly for mature-node DRAM and NAND products. And because memory pricing has risen sharply over the past year as AI data center demand tightened supply , this has only increased the operational importance of keeping fabs running smoothly, regardless of where they are.
It’s understood that the annual licenses under the new scheme are designed to allow continued operation and maintenance rather than unrestricted expansion. U.S. officials have repeatedly said that export controls are intended to prevent China from accessing advanced manufacturing capabilities; even under the old system, the most sensitive tools, including EUV, remained off-limits.
At the same time, the shift to yearly approvals introduces a new layer of uncertainty for chipmakers. Each renewal gives the U.S. leverage to adjust conditions or withhold approvals altogether, depending on the broader trade and national security climate. It has been speculated that U.S. officials expected the tighter framework to weigh on sales for American toolmakers such as Applied Materials, Lam Research, and KLA, which supply a wide range of systems used in memory fabs, such as etch and deposition.
For now, the approvals ensure that both companies can continue importing essential manufacturing equipment into China in 2026, even as Washington looks to change how closely those flows are scrutinized year by year.
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Key considerations
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Reference reading
- https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/SPONSORED_LINK_URL
- https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/us-grants-samsung-and-sk-hynix-2026-licenses-for-chipmaking-tool-shipments-to-china#main
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