Japan-South Korea riftSamsung tests non-Japan materials as Asia trade war deepens
Top chipmaker searches for new suppliers in China, Taiwan and at home
The Samsung Delight shop in Seoul. After repeated attempts, Vietnam says it has attracted a semiconductor investment from Samsung. © Getty Images
KENICHI YAMADA, Nikkei staff writer
SEOUL -- Samsung Electronics is testing hydrogen fluoride etching gas from companies outside Japan as Tokyo's tightened export controls risk cutting off the vital chipmaking material to South Korea manufacturers, a company source told Nikkei on July 16.