USITC institutes 337 investigation of NAND, DRAM memory chips

USITC Institutes Section 337 Investigation of Certain NAND and DRAM Memory Chips

March 26, 2026
News Release 26-047
Inv. No(s).

  337-TA-1492

Contact: Jennifer Andberg, 202-205-1819 USITC Institutes Section 337 Investigation of Certain NAND and DRAM Memory Chips

The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) voted to institute an investigation of certain NAND and DRAM memory chips. The products at issue in the investigation are described in the Commission’s notice of investigation.

The investigation is based on a complaint filed on behalf of MonolithIC 3D Inc. of Allen, Texas on February 17, 2026. The complaint was supplemented on February 25, 2026, and March 16, 2026.  The complaint, as supplemented, alleges violations of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 in the importation into the United States and sale of certain NAND and DRAM memory chips that infringe certain claims of the patents asserted by the complainant. The complainant requests that the USITC issue a limited exclusion order and cease and desist orders.

The USITC has identified the following respondents in this investigation:

• KIOXIA Holdings Corporation, Tokyo, Japan
• KIOXIA Corporation, Tokyo, Japan
• KIOXIA America, Inc., San Jose, California
• KIOXIA Engineering Corporation, Nagoya, Japan
• KIOXIA Iwate Corporation, Iwate, Japan
• KIOXIA Systems Co., Ltd., Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
• KIOXIA Semiconductor Taiwan Corporation, Taipei City, Taiwan
• SK hynix Inc., Gyeonggi-Do, Korea
• SK hynix America Inc., San Jose, California
• SK hynix Memory Solutions America Inc., San Jose, California By instituting this investigation (337-TA-1492), the USITC has not yet made any decision on the merits of the case. The USITC’s Chief Administrative Law Judge will assign the case to one of the USITC’s administrative law judges (ALJ), who will schedule and hold an evidentiary hearing. The ALJ will make an initial determination as to whether there is a violation of section 337; that initial determination is subject to review by the Commission.

The USITC will make a final determination in the investigation at the earliest practicable time. Within 45 days after institution of the investigation, the USITC will set a target date for completing the investigation. USITC remedial orders in section 337 cases are effective when issued and become final 60 days after issuance unless disapproved for policy reasons by the U.S. Trade Representative within that 60-day period.

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