Korea, U.S. to discuss concerns over chips and science act

Korea and the United States will continue to consult closely over Seoul's concerns regarding the U.S. Chips and Science Act, Seoul's trade minister said Thursday.

The U.S. has also agreed to closely work with Korean chipmakers in implementing the chips act, according to Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun.

"The U.S. emphasized that Korea is one of the most important partners when it comes to cooperation on semiconductors, and said it will closely consult with the government and businesses of Korea in the process of implementing subsidies under the chips act," the trade minister told reporters.

Ahn arrived here Wednesday for talks on what he called Korea's "concerns" over the act that offers up to $52.7 billion in subsidies to chipmakers, but in exchange for what many consider business secrets.

The United States announced details of subsidies under the chips act last week in what is known as the Notice of Funding Opportunity, or NOFO.

The Korean minister earlier noted the U.S. demand for "too much information" from Korean chipmakers has created "concerns."

"We actively asked the U.S. side that the NOFO be implemented in a way that will not lead to increased uncertainties for businesses, intervention in business management or increased cost of investment in the United States," Ahn told reporters.

"In addition, our government emphasized that increased uncertainty due to the NOFO is not desirable for our companies' investment in the United States or cooperation between Korea, Japan and the United States on semiconductor supply chain," he added.

Seoul has also asked the United States to make sure the chips act will not undermine business operations of Korean chipmakers in China, Ahn said.

The chips act bars chipmakers that receive U.S. subsidies from making new investments in China for a decade.

Alan Estevez, under secretary of commerce for industry and security, has also said Korean firms entitled to U.S. subsidies — Samsung Electronics and SK hynix — will likely have limits on the level of advanced semiconductors they can produce in China.

Yonhap