<Anchor>
One of the
big worries of our semiconductor companies recently was the local factory in China. Although there was a grace period, difficulties were expected because the United States effectively banned the export of semiconductor equipment to China. It is known that our government is discussing with the United States a new standard that can alleviate these worries.

This is a report from our Washington correspondent.

<Reporter>

The United States effectively banned the export of semiconductor equipment to Chinese companies in October last year.

Foreign companies in China were required to undergo individual screening.

Our companies, such as Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, which have factories in China, were also concerned about production disruptions, but received a one-year moratorium from the U.S. government to import equipment without applying for a permit.

However, the problem was that it was a temporary measure, and we didn't know when the equipment would be cut off.

The idea of extending the extension for another year was discussed through the foreign press, but a diplomatic source revealed that the United States is in discussions with the ROK Government to prepare separate standards to apply to South Korean companies.

He said that the United States also agreed to create a separate standard, and that its position is to "make it well."

If a separate standard is created, our companies will be able to bring U.S. semiconductor equipment that does not exceed the control standard to factories in China for an unlimited period of time and continue production.

It seems that it will be a way to limit the level of equipment and semiconductor technology, but the key is to what level to allow.

[Alan Estevez/Under Secretary of Commerce for Industrial Security (February): [The new threshold after the moratorium] will stop at some level of what kind of NAND companies are producing right now, and it will also be affected by how China does.]

In addition, it may be burdensome if a separate standard consultation process requires the establishment of a device to prevent technology leakage.

If an agreement cannot be reached by October, when the export control moratorium ends, it is likely to go to a moratorium for another year.

(Video Interview: Park Eun-hae, Video Editing: Kim Jong-mi)