US initiative to produce semiconductors in Latin America announced by Antony Blinken
- The effort, intended to counter China, will expand chip manufacturing in Mexico, Costa Rica and Panama, and possibly other countries in the future
The United States has launched a programme meant to expand semiconductor manufacturing in Mexico, Costa Rica and Panama, with plans to potentially include other countries in the Americas.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced the Western Hemisphere Semiconductor Initiative on Wednesday during opening remarks at the Americas Partnership ministerial plenary meeting in Washington.
US President Joe Biden began the group during the 2022 Americas Summit in Los Angeles. At the time, the strategy was promoted as a way to “tackle economic inequality, foster regional economic integration and good jobs, and restore faith in democracy by delivering for working people across the region”.
The group comprises the US, Barbados, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Peru and Uruguay. Experts see this as a way of countering China’s growing influence in Latin America.
Blinken said the initiative was the result of the Americas Partnership Semiconductor Workforce Symposium, which took place in Costa Rica in January.
He said local leaders were working to “identify ways that the region can play a larger role in the global supply chain for this critical technology”.
