摘要: |
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN QUITE A WHILE, Washington is in the chips-semiconductor chips, that is. Following Congress's passing of a bipartisan $280 billion package of subsidies and research funding to increase America's international competitiveness in the high-tech sector, the bill was soon after signed into law by President Biden. It's designed to make the U.S. less dependent on Taiwan for production of the ubiquitous wee chips that are critical to U.S. competitiveness. The bill, titled the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) for America fund, includes about $52 billion in direct subsidies to boost domestic semiconductor production. Already, Intel Corp. is planning a $100 billion chip production plant in New Albany, Ohio, creating 3,000 jobs. The measure was praised by trucking interests who viewed it as a way to produce the vital chips that power so much of today's economy, including motor transport. |