Korea hopes US will extend sanction exemptions for SK hynix and Samsung

South Korean chipmakers believe they are likely to receive a waiver on US semiconductor tool related sanctions for an undisclosed period, according to the country's industry minister Lee Chang-yang. Those bans specifically restrict the export to China of equipment and software used to produce DRAM chips below 18nm, NAND …

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There is no point in disrupting their China operations when 85% of Apple's operation is expected to remain in China. Apple of one of the main reasons why these SK memory suppliers are in China in the first place and Apple has little desire to leave China.

The US gov't needs to address Apple's massive China outsourcing practices if they are serious about decoupling from China.