Micron Invests $250 Billion in New Fab; U.S. Commerce Secretary Urges Samsung, SK Hynix to Follow Suit as Chip War Expands to Memory Sector

Global demand for artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly increasing, making memory chip supply constraints a key concern for the U.S. government. U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick recently stated that the U.S. is in talks with South Korea's Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, urging both companies to expand their manufacturing presence in the United States and boost domestic memory chip production capacity.

According to reports from Bloomberg News and other international media, Lutnick made the remarks during an event at Micron Technology's new facility in New York State. He acknowledged that Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra might not welcome competitors expanding in the U.S., but emphasized that the U.S. must strengthen its domestic semiconductor supply chain to meet the growing demand for critical components driven by AI development.

Micron previously announced plans to increase its U.S. investment to $250 billion by 2035. While visiting Micron’s new plant near Syracuse, New York, Lutnick said the U.S. wants to protect outstanding companies and those investing intellectual property in the country, and therefore welcomes Micron’s accelerated expansion.

However, Lutnick also stated that he wants to bring Micron’s rivals—Samsung and SK Hynix—to build fabs in the U.S. He said, “Micron is leading the way. Once others see it, they’ll feel pressure and eventually follow.” Analysts interpret this as a signal that Washington isn’t just supporting Micron but also aims to bolster the U.S. memory supply chain by attracting major Korean manufacturers.

Samsung and SK Hynix have benefited from rising AI server demand, especially for high-bandwidth memory (HBM) and advanced DRAM, positioning them as key players in the global AI supply chain. Both companies plan large-scale investments in new fabs over the coming years to meet the surging memory demand fueled by the AI boom.

South Korean media note that since the early days of the Trump administration, the U.S. has consistently urged Korean semiconductor firms to expand U.S. investments. After Samsung and SK Hynix recently announced major investment plans in Korea, attention is growing over whether Washington will intensify pressure to shift more production capacity and investment to the U.S.

On another front, Lutnick did not directly address whether Apple might procure memory chips from Chinese suppliers. He only stressed the importance of protecting U.S. companies’ intellectual property. Reports indicate that Apple CEO Tim Cook has sought approval from the Trump administration to source memory chips from Chinese firms like CXMT and YMTC to reduce cost pressures.

Industry insiders warn that if the U.S. approves such procurement, it could undermine the strategic value of Micron’s massive U.S. investment. Chinese memory makers, if granted market access, could expand their share through low-cost strategies, further pressuring established giants like Micron, Samsung, and SK Hynix.

As AI data centers rapidly expand, memory chips are no longer just electronic components but strategic assets affecting AI computing power, server deployment, and national technological competitiveness. The U.S. seeks to strengthen its domestic supply chain while balancing cost, allied investment, and competition with China.

Currently, Samsung and SK Hynix have not issued clear responses to Lutnick’s remarks. However, as demand for AI chips and memory continues to rise, whether these Korean giants will expand their U.S. footprint will be a key indicator for the next phase of the global semiconductor supply chain.

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