The US has granted a waiver to technology firms including Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix that will be allow them to supply US-made chip equipment to their China factories indefinitely without separate US approvals, South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency has reported. 

The US government has already notified the two companies of its decision, which takes effect immediately, Choi Sang-mok, Seoul’s senior presidential secretary for economic affairs, told reporters. 

Previously, the two companies were required to seek one-year waivers to the US sanctions on the import of advanced technology to the Asian giant. The waivers would have expired this month.

“The US government’s decision means that the most significant trade issue of our semiconductor companies has been resolved,” said Choi. “Uncertainties about South Korean semiconductor firms’ operations and investments in China have been greatly eased; they will be able to calmly seek long-term global management...