The data released by China’s customs department marked a small improvement for the country, which saw an 18.5% decline in chip imports in the first half of the year

TSMC said the US had advised it to apply for a "validated end-user" authorisation, which would serve as a permanent authorisation for its China operations

Samsung makes about 40% of its NAND flash chips at its plant in Xian, China, while SK Hynix makes about 40% of its DRAM chips in Wuxi

In order to meet the demands of the rapidly developing AI industry, Beijing also plans to improve computational infrastructure in western China

The extension would mark an end to business uncertainty for South Korea’s Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix who have invested billions in their chip fabs in China

The announcement came after customs data showed China had completely blocked its exports of germanium and gallium products in August

Top South Korean chipmakers Samsung and SK Hynix currently have permits to import US chip-making equipment into China, where they have extensive production facilities

The Taiwanese chip giant is considering setting up a second fab in Japan, and adding capacity to an $8.6 billion plant already under construction in the country

The chief of one of the world’s biggest chip equipment-makers, ASML, said isolating China completely will ‘force’ the country to ramp up innovation

State media said the investment was a clear sign of Beijing's push to end the country's reliance on foreign semiconductor firms

The development follows sanctions-hit Huawei's success in building an advanced 7-nanometer processor, in collaboration with state-backed SMIC

US unions have called on lawmakers not to grant visas to Taiwanese workers TSMC wants to bring in to get their Arizona plant back on track