维持和扩大美国半导体的优势：概述

TheUnitedStatesandseveralalliesandpartnerspresentlyenjoyanadvantageoverChinaincollectivelyproducingtheadvancedsemiconductorsnecessaryforartificialintelligence(AI)andotherleading-edgecomputingtechnologies.Thisadvantagestemsfromtheirtightcontrolovermanypartsofthesemiconductorsupplychain,includingoverdesignandadvancedinputstoproductionlikethesemiconductormanufacturingequipment(SME)necessaryforadvancedchips,andithaspromotedcomparativelysafeandethicaltechnologydevelopment.YetthecomplexitiesoftheglobalsemiconductorindustrydonotguaranteeafutureedgefortheUnitedStatesandotherdemocraticchipmakingleadersamidstrategiccompetitionwithChina.Despiteitsadvantagesinresearch,equipment,designsoftware,andintellectualproperty(IP),theUnitedStateslacksonshoresemiconductorfabricationfacilities(fabs)thatcoverttheseandotherinputsintoleading-edgechips.Thisrealitycouldunderminethecountry’schipaccessanditsleadingroleinadvancedsemiconductorsupplychains.TheUnitedStatesoverwhelminglydependsonTaiwaneseandSouthKoreanmanufacturersforleading-edgelogicchipimports,exposingitsaccesstogeopoliticalrisk.Meanwhile,Chinahopestolessenitslong-termdependenceonforeignadvancedchipsbysupportingitsdomesticmanufacturerslikeSMICandYMTCand,increasingly,byinvestingacrossotherpartsofthesemiconductorsupplychain.Withunfetteredaccesstoadvancedchips,Chinacouldpursueleading-edgecomputingcapabilitiesinAIandotherareasthatthreatentheinterests,values,andsecurityoftheUnitedStatesanditsallies.TheUnitedStatesshouldthereforeworktowardtwoprimaryobjectiveswhenitcomestosustainingandgrowingitssemiconductoradvantagesoverChina.First,protectingtheU.S.SMEadvantageentailspreventingChinafromproducingleading-edgechips.TheUnitedStateswillneedtoworkwithitsalliesandpartnerstoprotectSMEsupplychainsfromChineseaccessandpromotetheirdevelopmentonfriendlyshores,safeguardingU.S.economicandmilitaryadvantagesusingtoolssuchasexportcontrolsandend-usemonitoring.Navigatingcompetitiveeconomicdynamicsamonggovernmentsandmultinationalprivatesectorfirmswhileworkingtowardsharedgoalsmayprovechallenging,butwillbecriticallyimportant.Second,theUnitedStatesneedstolimitpotentialriskstoitsownsemiconductorsupplybyreshoringchipmakingcapacity.ItcanachievethisgoalbyprioritizingandallocatingincentivestodomesticandalliedfirmsthroughvehicleslikeCHIPSforAmericaActfundingthat,coupledwithregulatoryreformsthateaseburdensonfirms,woulddecreasetheattractivenessofoffshoringchipmanufacturing.Thisbriefdiscussesincentiveprioritizationintermsofleading-edgelogic,leading-edgememory,andlegacylogicchips.Atthesametime,exploringlegislationtosecureaccesstoskilledforeignlaborwhileinvestingindomesticeducationandretrainingcanhelpbuildthefutureU.S.semiconductorworkforce.HolisticallyapproachingtheprotectionandreshoringgoalscouldbolsterU.S.controloverboththeIPbehindSMEandadvancedchipsandthephysicalfabsthatproducethem.ThisbrieflaysoutfindingsfromacrossCSET’sworkontheseissuestohelppolicymakersscopethechallengesaheadandidentifypathsforward.