Washington’s South Korean advanced memory chipmaker anti-China restrictions will hit Samsung much harder than Beijing.

Senior US Commerce officials have blocked South Korea from License Exception IEC, which allows eligible allies to buy advanced US chipmaking equipment without individual licences, due to concerns that Seoul cannot prevent sensitive technology from reaching China. Samsung is particularly exposed. Its Xi’an factory produces about 40% of its global NAND output, putting a significant share of its US$9.2 billion in quarterly revenue at risk. Further upgrades will depend on US approval, which could become harder to secure as Washington grows frustrated with Seoul’s reluctance to approve investment in the Alaska LNG project. Chinese manufacturers such as YMTC will also gain ground as US restrictions hold back its South Korean competitors.