Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo discussed semiconductor accessibility and manufacturing in the U.S. in various appearances the past week.
In a CNBC interview Tuesday night, Raimondo said the shortage displayed the need to produce semiconductor chips domestically. She said the country will determine a way to boost domestic production.
“We are going to get it done. There is no option,” she said. “When the semiconductor supply chain is disrupted, the economy is disrupted.
“They are in your dishwasher, your car, your computer, your headset, your phone, military equipment. So, yes, we are going to get it done.”
In the interview, Raimondo added her support to pending legislation that would provide $52 billion to support domestic semiconductor manufacturing.
“This cannot wait,” Raimondo said. “This requires emergency appropriation … and I believe that there is the will in the Congress to make that happen.”
On Monday, Raimondo visited the MicronTech semi plant in Virginia, joining company CEO Sanjay Mehrota as well as Sens. Mark Warner (D-Va.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas).
“Semiconductors are the building blocks of our future economy and a key part of our global competitiveness,” Raimondo said in a Twitter statement. “Semiconductors should be made in America and I am grateful to the bipartisan effort to work together to boost American innovation and competitiveness in semiconductor technology and manufacturing.”
The appearances this week followed a roundtable May 21 with South Korean representatives. Raimondo met with President Moon Jae-In and Sung Wook Moon, the minister of trade, industry and energy. South Korean CEOs also participated.
The companies announced plans to invest more than $30 billion in the U.S., including more than $17 billion in semiconductor manufacturing.
“Following our productive discussions with private companies from the semiconductor, battery, automobile, and bioscience industries (such as vaccines),” Raimondo and the South Korean leaders said in a joint statement, “we commit to supporting efforts that will ensure resilient supply chains of our critical industries that are the heart of innovation. The mutual investments of private companies have long made critical contributions to the strength of our countries’ respective supply chains. The further collaboration between industry leaders from both countries will provide the best opportunity to ensure resilient supply chains and the competitiveness of our industries.”
