South Korea Lands $2 Billion From 4 US Companies as Trump Turns Up Pressure on Foreign Chipmakers: GLW, APD, ACLS Among Stocks in Focus

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Four U.S. companies have filed investment reports totaling $2 billion for projects in South Korea's semiconductor, advanced materials, and clean energy sectors, the country's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said Friday. It's a notable vote of confidence in the Asian manufacturing hub, and it comes at a time when the Trump administration is turning up the heat on foreign chipmakers.

The Companies Behind the Investment

Air Products and Chemicals Inc. (APD) is expanding its semiconductor gas facilities in Pyeongtaek, marking its largest project since entering Korea. Axcelis Technologies Inc. (ACLS) will expand its Korean ion implanter facility to serve as an Asia-Pacific export hub. Corning Inc. (GLW) will expand advanced materials manufacturing for next-generation devices and semiconductors. And Pacifico Energy will move forward with a 3.2-gigawatt offshore wind farm in South Jeolla Province.

At a roundtable in Washington following the announcement, South Korea's trade, industry, and resources Minister Kim Jeong-kwan told the companies: "The protagonists who will advance Korea-U.S. industrial cooperation in the future are none other than you, the business leaders."

Trump Is Weighing New Semiconductor Tariffs

The investment announcement comes as President Donald Trump's administration is reportedly considering a new round of semiconductor tariffs that could extend beyond raw chips to finished electronics, including laptops and data center servers, according to a Politico report. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has floated tying tariff relief for foreign companies to their level of investment in U.S. chip production.

So you've got this interesting dynamic: the U.S. is threatening tariffs on chips and electronics, but also dangling the possibility of relief for companies that invest in American production. Meanwhile, South Korea is actively courting U.S. investment in its own chip ecosystem. It's a global game of chess, and the pieces are moving fast.

Part of a Broader AI-Driven Trade Surge

South Korea's exports to the U.S. rose 89.3% year-over-year in August to $16.5 billion, led by triple-digit growth in semiconductors and computers, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources. Overall, semiconductor exports climbed 209% to a record $46.65 billion, topping $40 billion for a third straight month, driven by demand for AI infrastructure from hyperscalers including Alphabet Inc.'s Google (GOOG, GOOGL) and Amazon.Com, Inc. (AMZN).

South Korea's memory chipmakers have become central to the AI buildout, with Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix Inc. (SKHY) controlling more than 95% of global DRAM output, along with Micron Technology Inc. (MU).

According to MarketDash rankings, Air Product's stock has a Momentum score in the 53rd percentile and a Growth score in the 12th percentile.

Stock Market News

South Korea Lands $2 Billion From 4 US Companies as Trump Turns Up Pressure on Foreign Chipmakers: GLW, APD, ACLS Among Stocks in Focus

Get Corning Alerts

The Companies Behind the Investment

Trump Is Weighing New Semiconductor Tariffs

Part of a Broader AI-Driven Trade Surge

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