Sept 2 (Reuters) - The U.S. has revoked Taiwan

Semiconductor Manufacturing Co's ( TSM ) authorization to ship

key equipment to its main China facility, the chip manufacturer

said on Tuesday.

The change removes a fast-track export privilege known as

Validated End User (VEU) status, effective December 31, meaning

future shipments of U.S.-origin chipmaking tools to TSMC's

Nanjing site will require individual licenses.

The U.S. has steadily tightened export controls to curb

China's access to advanced semiconductors and chipmaking tools,

expanding licensing requirements and revoking waivers for some

foreign-owned China chip facilities.

VEU status lets approved China facilities receive specified

U.S.-origin tools and tech without applying for individual

licenses.

Losing this status means each shipment would now need a

license, slowing deliveries and making capacity expansions or

technology upgrades more difficult.

The U.S. Department of Commerce did not immediately respond

to Reuters' request for comment.

Similar waivers for Samsung and SK Hynix's ( HXSCF )

China plants are set to lapse in about four months,

as Washington tightens controls even on older-generation chip

production.