[Interview] Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. "Not just packaging, but investment in all areas of semiconductors is needed."

Tod Estes, a Republican senator from Indiana and a leading advocate for the CHIPS Act, expressed strong expectations that SK Hi-King plans to expand its investment in Indiana in the future. The U.S. government recently emphasized the need to invest in "all areas" of the semiconductor ecosystem, not just advanced packaging, besides semiconductor manufacturing.

At a recent event in West Lafayette, Indiana, Estes met with SK Hi-King and stated that he believes the company will increase its investments in Indiana. He projected that the investment would lead to further expansion, job creation, and the attraction of other advanced manufacturing firms to the state. Estes also mentioned that the conglomerate SK Group intends to invest substantial resources in biotech and possibly steel industries in the future.

While acknowledging the importance of packaging in the semiconductor ecosystem, he stressed that all other areas must also be adequately funded. Estes clarified that the goal of the CHIPS Act is not to achieve complete independence for the United States but to reduce dependency on other regions for critical supply chains and expand relations with other nations.

He also advocated for reducing customs on non-strategic items, emphasizing that long-term strategic value is more important than applying tariffs to all products. Regarding U.S.-Korea relations, Estes positively assessed their strength and potential for further strengthening. He praised the Trump administration's commitment to enforcing the CHIPS Act, which has already secured approximately $800 billion in investment promises.

Estes also suggested that Congress might consider extending the tax credit for domestic semiconductor production facilities, as the deadline for eligibility is December 31st of this year. Another topic under discussion is the extension of the tax credit for semiconductor investment, which some lawmakers have already pledged to pursue in the upcoming congress.