US lawmakers, citing China, press for US$52 billion in subsidies to build chip factories in America
- Bipartisan ‘Problem Solvers Caucus’ raises threat of China’s competitiveness, and the possibility of attack on Taiwan, as reasons to act
- Senate has already passed its bill but the House of Representatives has yet to vote on its version
A bipartisan group of US lawmakers – most of them sounding alarms over China’s competitive threat – called on Thursday for passage of a bill to provide billions of dollars in funding for domestic production of semiconductor chips.
The Problem Solvers Caucus – comprising 58 lawmakers in both congressional chambers, evenly split between Republicans and Democrats – cited mainland China’s growing semiconductor production capacity and the possibility that Beijing might invade Taiwan as urgent incentives for the House of Representatives to pass its version of legislation meant to boost American chip output.
“We need to build seven to 10 new facilities across the America in order to maintain our leading research and development. China’s putting up 150,” he said.
The senator also cited Taiwan’s TSMC as the world’s leading chip maker, “and probably the most cutting-edge company of all” in the industry.
