The U.S. has asked South Korea to tighten export controls on semiconductor technology to China, mirroring restrictions Washington implemented in 2022, Bloomberg reported. Washington wants Seoul to limit the export of equipment and technologies for producing advanced logic chips and DRAM memory chips to China, aiming to reach an agreement before the G7 summit in mid-June 2024.

South Korean officials are reportedly debating whether to comply with the U.S. request, as China remains a key trading partner. South Korea plays a significant role in the global semiconductor industry, with major companies like Samsung and SK Hynix operating in China and is considering a multinational framework to review export controls for sensitive products.