Former Intel CEO Craig Barrett has published an appeal outlining a plan to save American advanced chip manufacturing. In his opinion, Intel remains the only company in the United States capable of providing local production at the level of TSMC, but does not have sufficient funding to scale up, Fortune reports.
Barrett notes that neither Samsung nor TSMC plans to move their advanced manufacturing capabilities to the U.S. anytime soon. This poses risks for companies like NVIDIA, Apple, and Google that rely on imported suppliers. He suggests that Intel’s eight largest customers invest $5 billion each — this would allow the company to raise the $40 billion it needs to develop technologies, including high NA EUV and backside power delivery.
He criticizes Intel's current management for refusing to invest in the new 14A technology without prior customer contracts. According to him, leadership in manufacturing requires a proactive approach, not waiting for confirmation. Barrett also opposes the idea of breaking Intel into separate businesses, considering it a distraction from the real problem - the lack of capital.
As one option to stimulate investment, he proposes introducing a tariff on imports of advanced semiconductors, similar to the support for the steel and aluminum industries. This, he believes, will create conditions for maintaining national security and the stability of supply chains.
Recall that the current CEO of Intel, Lip-Bu Tan, plans to cut more than 33 thousand employees by the end of 2025. At the same time, US President Donald Trump is demanding his resignation as chairman of Intel due to ties to China, but Lip-Bu Tan is ready to seek compromises with the US government.