Holland Reporter

Matt Hall, a State Representative from Michigan, said that President Trump's tariff strategy could potentially facilitate the establishment of semiconductor manufacturing in Michigan. This move is seen as a countermeasure to the state's high energy costs and restrictive policies. Hall made this statement on X.

"President Trump's bold tariffs are already bringing back jobs to American shores," said Matthew Richard Hall. "We need these critical national defense technologies to be built in the USA, and we want them built in Michigan. Michigan is losing the race for chip factories because of high energy costs and bad state policies that discourage growth. His economic plan is our best shot to get these great-paying semiconductor jobs to come here to Michigan."

Donald Trump has proposed implementing a 100% tariff on semiconductor imports with the aim of encouraging manufacturers to build facilities within the United States. According to AP News, exemptions might be granted to companies like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) and Samsung if they choose to invest domestically. While the plan aims to boost U.S. manufacturing, it has also led to uncertainty among businesses due to unclear implementation details.

Michigan currently hosts 14 semiconductor and circuit manufacturing businesses. However, the U.S. as a whole produces only a small portion of the world's chips, projected to account for 14% of global output by 2032. This highlights both the limited scale of Michigan's chip industry and the broader national effort to increase domestic production, according to IBISWorld.

The industrial electricity rate in Michigan averages about 15.0¢ per kilowatt-hour (kWh), which is significantly higher than the national average. Choose Energy reports that these elevated costs can disadvantage Michigan manufacturers compared to those in states with cheaper industrial power.

Hall, who has represented Michigan’s 42nd House District since 2023 and became Speaker of the House in 2025 after serving as Minority Leader, focuses on affordability, government efficiency, and fiscal conservatism. He is a constitutional attorney with roots in Kalamazoo and Allegan Counties.