US must be ‘at the table’ in semiconductor field: Blinken
- Blinken stressed the importance of ‘getting into that tech diplomacy, making sure that the United States is at the table when decisions are being made’
- The Chips and Science Act, which US President Joe Biden signed into law last month, includes around US$52 billion to promote domestic production of chips
The United States should take on a greater role in the global semiconductor industry for the sake of its economy and security, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Tuesday.
Addressing students and researchers at Purdue University, home to one of America’s top engineering schools, Blinken stressed the importance of “getting into that tech diplomacy, making sure that the United States is at the table when decisions are being made”.
He added: “We need to be there, and not only do we need to be there, we need to be able to carry the debate.”
The United States is leading an unprecedented effort to supercharge domestic semiconductor research and production, both to alleviate Covid-19 supply chain issues and shift away from reliance on Chinese technology.
The electronic components are essential for multiple global sectors, including the auto industry and smartphones.
The Chips and Science Act, which US President Joe Biden signed into law last month, includes around US$52 billion to promote domestic production of the microchips.
“What we do here resonates around the world,” Blinken said at Purdue, noting that the technology affects all sectors, including foreign policy and defence.