U.S. Trade Official Seeks Profit-Sharing Deal with Samsung, SK Hynix on AI Chips

According to Korea Herald, U.S. Trade Representative Rick Switzer requested last month that South Korea's Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix share profits from booming AI chip demand with American partners. The logic, per the report citing sources, was that U.S. companies' large-scale semiconductor purchases directly contributed to Korean firms' profit growth, warranting equal treatment as domestic partners.

Data showed South Korea's semiconductor exports reached $192.43 billion in the first half of 2026, up 162.5% year-over-year, with exports to the U.S. at $26.4 billion, surging 91.3%.