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Trump Administration Renegotiates Biden-Era Chips Act Grants, Says Commerce Secretary Lutnick

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The Trump administration is actively renegotiating semiconductor manufacturing grants originally awarded under the Biden-era CHIPS and Science Act, according to U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Speaking before the Senate Appropriations Committee on Wednesday, Lutnick indicated that some of these awards may be significantly altered or even cancelled as part of efforts to secure better terms for U.S. taxpayers.

“Some of the Biden-era grants just seemed overly generous, and we’ve been able to renegotiate them,” Lutnick told lawmakers, emphasizing that the renegotiations aim to deliver greater value to the American public. “All the deals are getting better, and the only deals that are not getting done are deals that should have never been done in the first place.”

$52.7 Billion CHIPS Act Under Review

The $52.7 billion CHIPS and Science Act, signed by President Biden in 2022, was designed to bolster domestic semiconductor manufacturing and reduce reliance on Asia, particularly Taiwan and South Korea. Under the program, billions of dollars in grants were awarded to both U.S. and foreign chipmakers, including Taiwan’s TSMC, South Korea’s Samsung and SK Hynix, as well as U.S.-based Intel and Micron.

Though many of these awards were signed before Biden left office, most of the funds have yet to be fully disbursed. The grant payments are generally structured to be released as companies meet specific production and investment milestones tied to their U.S. plant expansions.

TSMC Award Revised Amid Expanding U.S. Investment

Lutnick cited Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) as an example of successful renegotiation. Under the original agreement, TSMC was awarded $6 billion to support its U.S. manufacturing expansion. Lutnick revealed that TSMC subsequently increased its planned investment from $65 billion to $165 billion, while still receiving the same $6 billion in federal funds.

Although TSMC confirmed in March that it would invest an additional $100 billion in the U.S., the company has not commented on whether the new investment was directly tied to renegotiated CHIPS Act terms.

White House Seeking Delays and New Terms

The renegotiation efforts are not new. In February, Reuters reported that the White House was already seeking to renegotiate several awards and delay some upcoming disbursements to ensure better returns on government spending.

Lutnick’s comments suggest that the Trump administration intends to continue scrutinizing past agreements to maximize taxpayer value and may block deals it deems wasteful or excessive.

AI Computing Capacity Also a Focus

During the hearing, Lutnick also addressed concerns about the global race for artificial intelligence computing capacity. He emphasized the administration’s commitment to ensuring that over 50% of global AI compute power remains based in the United States. This statement comes amid criticism of a Trump administration deal allowing the United Arab Emirates to purchase advanced American AI chips, raising fears about exporting critical technology.

GlobalFoundries Forecasts Stronger Q2 Amid Stable Demand and Tariff Tailwinds

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GlobalFoundries (GFS.O) on Tuesday projected second-quarter revenue and profit slightly above Wall Street expectations, indicating stable demand despite industry-wide pressures from tariffs, smartphone weakness, and policy uncertainty.

The U.S.-based contract chipmaker expects Q2 revenue of $1.68 billion (±$25 million) and adjusted earnings of 36 cents per share (±5 cents). Analysts polled by LSEG had anticipated $1.67 billion in revenue and 35 cents per share in profit. The positive forecast comes after the company posted Q1 revenue of $1.59 billion, slightly ahead of estimates, and adjusted earnings of 34 cents, beating forecasts of 28 cents.

While smartphone demand, its largest revenue stream, remains under pressure, GlobalFoundries said its automotive chip segment showed year-over-year growth in Q1. This resilience comes amid U.S. President Donald Trump’s global tariff strategy, which has already imposed levies on foreign-made autos – the company’s third-largest market.

Interestingly, CEO Thomas Caulfield noted that U.S. tariffs on foreign-made chips could benefit domestic manufacturers like GlobalFoundries by prompting customers to shift production to U.S.-based fabs. However, broader uncertainty around the CHIPS Act, which includes $52.7 billion in U.S. subsidies for domestic chip production, continues to cloud the industry’s long-term outlook.

Meanwhile, speculation of a potential merger with Taiwanese United Microelectronics Corp (UMC) resurfaced in March, although UMC denied any ongoing talks in April.

Despite the policy fog and shaky smartphone sector, GlobalFoundries appears cautiously optimistic heading into Q2 – signaling potential resilience among U.S.-based chipmakers navigating a turbulent geopolitical landscape.

Wolfspeed’s Shares Plunge to 27-Year Low Amid Uncertainty Over Federal Funding

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Shares of Wolfspeed, a prominent chipmaker, dropped by 50% on Friday, hitting their lowest point since 1998. This significant decline stems from uncertainty surrounding the company’s eligibility for federal funding under the U.S. CHIPS Act. Wolfspeed is awaiting approximately $750 million in subsidies promised by the 2022 bipartisan CHIPS Act, which allocated $52.7 billion in federal funds to boost U.S. semiconductor manufacturing.

However, Wolfspeed’s future funding remains in limbo as the company is left vulnerable to changes in the administration’s stance on the law. President Donald Trump has recently voiced opposition to the CHIPS Act, calling for its repeal in favor of using its funds for debt reduction. This has increased concern over the company’s ability to secure the much-needed funds.

Analysts warn that without the CHIPS Act grant, Wolfspeed may face devastating consequences, including the need for major restructuring. The company had hoped the funding would help it accelerate the production of silicon carbide chips, essential for electric vehicles and renewable energy.

As of Friday, Wolfspeed’s shares were trading at $2.72, marking a 59% decline in value for the year. The company has also made changes in leadership, appointing Robert Feurle as CEO, effective May 1. Additionally, Wolfspeed has secured $865 million in tax credits to strengthen its financial position.