US Commerce Secretary Urges Samsung, SK Hynix to Expand AI Memory Chip Output in America

The global AI boom has made high-bandwidth memory and other AI memory chips critical supplies sought by technology giants. The US government is aggressively promoting domestic semiconductor manufacturing to reduce excessive reliance on Asian supply chains and guard against disruptions. The policy is crucial to the resilience of the US chip supply chain and could directly affect the global sourcing strategies and market positions of technology giants including Micron and Apple, making it a key battleground in the wake of the US-China technology war.

On July 9, 2026, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick called on South Korea’s Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix to expand investment in US chip plants while attending a concrete-pouring ceremony for Micron’s new facility in New York. Citing Micron’s pledge to invest $250 billion in the United States by 2035, Lutnick pressed the Korean chipmakers to help achieve a target of producing 40% domestically. The move is intended to counter an $880 billion semiconductor investment plan being pursued by Korean companies in their home market.