A New 'Ghost Story' in Storage: Is the US Going to Grab Money?
The article discusses a potential new phase in US-Korea semiconductor relations, shifting from pressure to build factories in the US to demands for profit-sharing. Citing the *Korea Times*, it reports that a US trade official allegedly claimed the US has a right to share in the massive profits of South Korean chipmakers Samsung and SK Hynix, arguing that purchases by American companies directly drive their earnings. While unconfirmed by US authorities, the claim has caused concern in Korea.
The context is Korea's surging semiconductor exports to the US and the dominant profitability of its memory chipmakers in the global AI supply chain. Analysis from CITIC Securities draws historical parallels, noting that sustained high profits or market share by foreign firms in key industries have often triggered US political intervention to redistribute global industrial benefits, as seen with Japanese semiconductors in the 1980s and Taiwanese panels in the 2000s.
Currently, the primary US focus remains securing AI-related memory supply and encouraging Korean investment in US manufacturing. Systemic political pressure to curb Korean profits is not yet evident. However, the report warns the risk could materialize if continued price increases start squeezing the profits and competitiveness of American companies. Key signals to watch would be if US tech giants publicly oppose price hikes or if US policymakers reframe the issue around anti-competitive practices. The official's reported remarks are seen as an early sign that the battleground in US-Korea chip rivalry may be extending to the division of profits.
marsbit07/19 01:10
