US commerce secretary pressures Samsung, SK hynix to build US fabs at Micron groundbreaking

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick called on Samsung Electronics and SK hynix to ramp up production in the United States at a groundbreaking ceremony for a Micron semiconductor factory, applying public pressure on rivals of the American chipmaker as the Trump administration drives to assert US dominance in semiconductors.

According to Bloomberg, Lutnick spoke Thursday at the concrete-pouring ceremony for a Micron fab under construction in Clay, New York, saying he wants to bring Samsung Electronics and SK hynix — Micron's competitors — to the United States to build manufacturing facilities. "Micron is leading the way, and the competitors are going to be jealous and ultimately have no choice but to follow," he said.

"We want to protect those who invest in great American companies and intellectual property," he said, adding, "It is my view that Micron should build its factories as fast as possible."

He also said President Donald Trump "has made it clear that the place you need to do business is America, and the world is responding quickly," adding that "the Trump economic model makes it clear there has never been a better time to invest in America."

Lutnick said he is in discussions with the two Korean memory chipmakers about expanding their US production but declined to provide specifics. He also declined to answer a question about whether the government would approve measures allowing Apple to source chips from China's CXMT and YMTC.

Meanwhile, Micron announced Thursday that it plans to expand its investment in US fabs and technology to more than $250 billion by 2035. The company said the investment would support its goal of producing 40 percent of its DRAM output domestically and would create more than 90,000 jobs across the country.

The move aligns with the Trump administration's ambitions to bolster the US semiconductor supply chain. Trump has pledged to have 40 percent of the world's semiconductors manufactured in the United States by the end of his term. Micron had originally planned to invest $170 billion in the US, raised that figure to $200 billion in June last year after the Trump administration took office, and on Thursday announced its intention to invest an additional $50 billion.

The timing of Micron's expanded investment announcement is also notable, coming one day before SK hynix is set to list its American depositary receipts on a US stock exchange — a move some observers see as a signal intended to keep a close eye on the competition.