Trump has openly criticized the CHIPS Actcalling it “bad” and benefiting “rich companies.” Instead of incentives, the former president proposes imposing tariffs to boost domestic manufacturing. “You have to get them to spend money in the United States and those plants would open. They would finance them. We don’t have to put in a dime,” he declared on Joe Rogan’s podcast.
These statements worry business leaders, who see them as a threat to the legislation that has promoted the construction of these plants. The senator Mark Kellyfor its part, considers that Trump seeks to “kill” the CHIPS Act, which would mean the loss of thousands of jobs in Arizona.
Amid the controversy, TSMC has reaffirmed its commitment to investing in Arizona, ensuring that its “investment plan in the United States remains unchanged.” Intel, for its part, sees the law as a “shared priority” with the Trump government, despite the former president’s statements.
With Trump coming to power, the industry expects a change in the regulations implemented by the Department of Commerce, including environmental regulations, hiring of unionized workers and child care for employees.
The fate of the TSMC and Intel plants in Arizona, and with them thousands of jobs, hangs in the balance amid political uncertainty. The first manufacturing facilities are expected to begin operations in the first six months of 2025.
