Don't cross the line

Recent reports that the Trump administration is considering acquiring equity stakes in foreign semiconductor companies, including Korea’s Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, in exchange for CHIPS and Science Act subsidies, represent a dangerous overreach of government power and a serious breach of trust. Such a move, if realized, would not only upend prior commitments made by the U.S. government but also undermine the principles of free-market capitalism the United States has long championed. According to Reuters and other sources, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has suggested that rather than offering subsidies as previously promised under the Biden administration, the new Trump administration wants something in return — namely, equity in the very companies building chip facilities on American soil. "We should get an equity stake for our money," Lutnick told CNBC. While the secretary noted that the U.S. would seek non-voting shares, such a move opens the door to future interference in corporate decision-making, eroding the autonomy of these firms. This approach stands in starWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times