President Donald Trump’s administration just tore up a quiet compromise that some of the world’s biggest chipmakers have relied on to maintain crucial operations in China. That tees up four months of complex policy talks to satisfy U.S. national security concerns while avoiding disruptions to supply chains that underpin the global electronics market.

At issue are so-called validated end user, or VEU, authorizations that have allowed Samsung Electronics Co., SK Hynix Inc. and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. to get supplies to factories in China without seeking Washington’s permission each time. Those waivers — which a South Korean official once said solved “the biggest trade issue” for the country’s chipmakers — are now set to expire at the end of this year.

That’s left government

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