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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.

SiCarrier Claims Its Tools Can Help China Develop Advanced Chips

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Chinese chip equipment maker Shenzhen SiCarrier Industry Machines asserted on Thursday that its domestically developed tools could enable China to manufacture advanced semiconductors, despite U.S. export controls on high-end chipmaking technology.

Speaking at the Semicon China industry fair, SiCarrier president Du Lijun noted that while China lacks access to advanced lithography systems due to U.S. trade restrictions, alternative non-optical technologies could be used to produce 5-nanometer (nm) chips. He acknowledged that multi-patterning techniques could increase manufacturing complexity and reduce yields but argued that they provide a viable path for China to progress beyond 7 nm chips.

SiCarrier, founded in 2022 and backed by a state investment fund, supplies major Chinese foundries such as Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) and reportedly collaborates with Huawei. The company was among 140 Chinese firms added to the U.S. trade blacklist in December 2023.

The firm’s multi-patterning approach, patented in late 2023, utilizes deep ultraviolet lithography (DUV) and self-aligned quadruple patterning (SAQP) to mimic certain EUV lithography capabilities while reducing costs. This strategy is seen as a potential workaround to Western restrictions on ASML’s extreme ultraviolet (EUV) machines.

Malaysia Aims to Become Energy and Chip Manufacturing Hub, Says PM

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Malaysia is setting its sights on becoming a global leader in energy and semiconductor manufacturing this year, building on a surge in investments and a favorable economic outlook, according to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. The country is positioning itself as a key player in Southeast Asia, attracting foreign investors as it stands out for its economic stability, robust growth, and a strong currency—factors that have set it apart from regional peers facing political and economic challenges.

At an economic forum on Thursday, Anwar highlighted the country’s strong recovery in 2024, fueled by significant investments, particularly in renewable energy and artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure. He noted that inflation was stable, the Malaysian ringgit had remained strong, and the stock market had emerged as the region’s top performer.

For 2025, the Malaysian government aims to capitalize on the country’s strategic geographical position to strengthen its role in energy, talent, and supply chain diversification. Anwar expressed plans to refine Malaysia’s capabilities in key sectors such as oil and gas, semiconductors, and Islamic finance to establish the country as a global leader in each of these industries.

Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli also shared Malaysia’s ambition to produce its own graphics processing unit (GPU) chips, catering to the growing demand driven by AI and data center development. “We are hoping that we can start producing made-by-Malaysia GPUs and chips in the next five to 10 years,” Ramli stated.

As a major player in the semiconductor industry, Malaysia accounts for 13% of global testing and packaging. The government is targeting over $100 billion in investments for the sector, capitalizing on its potential to attract business from Chinese chip firms seeking diversification. Additionally, Malaysia has secured multibillion-dollar investments from leading companies such as Intel and Infineon, alongside digital investments from tech giants like Google. These moves have contributed to the country’s impressive economic growth in 2024, surpassing market expectations and making the ringgit one of Asia’s top-performing currencies.