America's Big Chip Bet and its Potential Ripple Effects
Waking Up to the Obvious
For years, it seemed the West was perfectly content to outsource the production of the most important commodity of the 21st century. Microchips, the tiny brains powering everything from your kettle to a fighter jet, were mostly made somewhere else. Then, a global pandemic came along and revealed this strategy for what it was, a spectacular own goal. Supply chains seized up, and suddenly, politicians in Washington realised that not being able to make your own essential tech was, to put it mildly, a bit of a problem.
So now, in a flurry of activity, America is throwing an eye watering amount of money at the issue. This new trade deal with Taiwan earmarks a cool $500 billion to lure the world's best chipmakers onto US soil. It’s a monumental U-turn, a frantic attempt to reshore an entire industry. To me, it feels less like a stroke of genius and more like a long overdue correction, but the investment implications are fascinating nonetheless.