[서울신문] Samsung Electronics invited to the White House… It seems to be discussing new investment in the US

On the 12th, the U.S.’Biden Administration’ will call semiconductor and automobile leaders such as Samsung Electronics and General Motors (GM). As semiconductors for vehicles and smartphones are in short supply worldwide, it is expected that countermeasures will be discussed. There are also observations that it will be a place of condolence to attract semiconductor production bases in the US With this shortage of semiconductors, it has clearly demonstrated its will to take the lead in the supply chain of the global semiconductor market.

On the 1st (local time), Bloomberg News reported that White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and White House National Economy Committee Chairman Brian Dee will call industry officials to discuss the problem of semiconductor shortages. It is known that Samsung Electronics, GM, and Global Foundry are included in the’call list’.

The’Biden administration’ may request Samsung Electronics to expand production in the US to secure a stable semiconductor supply chain. Samsung Electronics, which is already operating a semiconductor consignment production (foundry) plant in Austin, Texas, is reviewing the construction and expansion of semiconductor factories after putting Austin, Arizona, and New York on the water. Samsung Electronics was negotiating incentives, including tax incentives, with the US state government for the new plant, but the call from the White House is expected to accelerate the new investment plan.

It is possible that the White House will talk about a new plant to Samsung Electronics, even though rival semiconductor companies have already decided to make additional investments in the US. On the 23rd of last month, the US semiconductor company Intel decided to invest 20 billion dollars in Arizona to build two new semiconductor factories. Taiwan’s TSMC also pledged to build a semiconductor plant in Arizona last year, spending 12 billion dollars.

The Biden administration sees semiconductors as one of the keys to the competition for technological hegemony in the US and China. As the semiconductor supply chain is scattered across Korea, China, Taiwan, Japan, and Europe, it is expected to provide full support so that the competitiveness of US companies will not weaken in the future. President Joe Biden recently announced an infrastructure stimulus plan worth 2.3 trillion won over eight years and announced that he would invest 50 billion dollars in the US semiconductor industry. Based on this meeting, the Biden administration is planning to persuade Congress to pass the’Semiconductor Act for the United States’, which deducts up to 40% of the investment from corporate tax if it invests in facilities in the United States.

However, from the perspective of Samsung Electronics, attending the White House meeting and responding closely to the Biden administration’s initiatives may be burdensome in that there is room for participation in the US-led’anti-China alliance’. In the midst of a conflict between the US and China, it can cause painful damage, so Samsung Electronics is expected to develop a US investment strategy after considering it sufficiently.

Reporter Jaehee Han [email protected]