Story perspectives

GlobalFoundries to build two 300mm fabs in Malta, New York

By Drooid · Oct 14, 2026, 6:04 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

GlobalFoundries was chosen as technology provider and operator for two new semiconductor fabs in Malta, New York.
Japan will contribute up to $21 billion under the U.S.–Japan trade and investment agreement.
Two $10 billion investments will fund 300 mm wafer fabs, each adding about 900,000 wafer equivalents annually, slated for 2029.
The project will create roughly 27,000 construction and ecosystem jobs and over 1,000 high-skill manufacturing jobs.

History

Historical Context

Japan’s semiconductor share hit roughly 50% in the 1980s while U.S. share dropped below 45, leading to the 1986 U.S.–Japan Semiconductor Agreement (Sept 2 1986) that opened market access and halted dumping. Building on that, President George H. W. Bush and Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu signed a 1990 trade pact that expanded cooperation, a framework echoed in today’s U.S.–Japan deal funding 300 mm fabs in Malta, New York.

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Story summary

GlobalFoundries was chosen as technology provider and operator for two new semiconductor fabs in Malta, New York.
Japan will contribute up to $21 billion under the U.S.–Japan trade and investment agreement.
Two $10 billion investments will fund 300 mm wafer fabs, each adding about 900,000 wafer equivalents annually, slated for 2029.
The project will create roughly 27,000 construction and ecosystem jobs and over 1,000 high-skill manufacturing jobs.

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