US mulling restrictions to keep Samsung, SK hynix, Micron from supplying HBM chips to China: Bloomberg

Flags of China and U.S. are displayed on a printed circuit board with semiconductor chips, in this illustration picture taken Feb. 17, 2023. Reuters-Yonhap

The United States is considering a new measure meant to prevent Samsung Electronics, SK hynix and Micron Technology from supplying high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips to Chinese firms, Bloomberg reported Wednesday.

Citing people familiar with the matter, the news outlet said that the U.S. is weighing the unilateral restrictions on China's access to artificial intelligence (AI) memory chips and equipment capable of making those chips "as soon as next month," though no final decision has been made.

If rolled out, the measure would cover HBM2 and other advanced chips, including HBM3 and HBM3E, Bloomberg said. HBM chips are used to run AI accelerators.

Samsung, SK hynix and Micron dominate the global HBM market, according to the outlet.

The new restrictions are part of a broader package that also includes sanctions against more than 120 Chinese firms and fresh limits on various types of chip equipment, with carveouts for Korea, Japan and the Netherlands. This means equipment measures would primarily target U.S. companies, Bloomberg said.

The measure came as strategic competition between the U.S. and China is heating up over technological leadership, maritime security, trade and other fields. (Yonhap)