US prepares action targeting allies' chip plants in China, WSJ reports
A U.S. official has informed leading global semiconductor companies of plans to cancel waivers allowing them to use American technology in China, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter.
Jeffrey Kessler, under secretary of commerce for industry and security at the Commerce Department, told Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing this week that he wanted to cancel those waivers, WSJ reported.
Reuters could not immediately confirm the report.
A Commerce spokesperson said in a statement, “Chipmakers will still be able to operate in China. The new enforcement mechanisms on chips mirror licensing requirements that apply to other semiconductor companies that export to China and ensure the United States has an equal and reciprocal process.”
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/us-prepares-action-targeting-allies-151732518.html
Not sure how much American tech is utilized by these foreign chip makers; this may be a case of cutting off your nose to spite your face, unless this is a backdoor way to affect Apple iPhone sales.