4 semiconductor manufacturing trends to watch in 2025

A new administration, persistent AI-driven demand and ongoing talent shortages will influence chip manufacturing this year.

By Joelle Anselmo • Jan. 23, 2025

Trump eyes 10% China tariff hike by Feb. 1

The president floated a similar timeline for 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico.

By Philip Neuffer • Jan. 22, 2025

Trump freezes IRA funding

The White House issued a memo the following day to clarify the funding pause, specifying that it pertains only to aspects of the law mentioned in Section 2 of the executive order.

By Kate Magill • Updated 8 minutes ago

Meat plant workers face increased health risks: USDA

The agency's research comes as meat producers push to increase factory line speeds, which critics say compounds the likelihood of injury.

By Nathan Owens • Jan. 21, 2025

Trump orders trade review ahead of potential tariffs

Federal agencies have until April 1 to give recommendations on trade pacts with Mexico, Canada and China.

By Philip Neuffer • Jan. 21, 2025

4 companies offered nearly $250M CHIPS funding

In a race to dish out $39 billion in CHIPS funds, the White House issued money for semiconductor projects in Massachusetts, Oregon, Washington, Texas and Pennsylvania.

By Joelle Anselmo • Jan. 17, 2025

FDA bans red dye No. 3 over link to cancer in rats

Food and beverage manufacturers must reformulate petroleum-based coloring products such as candy and cereal by January 2027.

By Christopher Doering • Jan. 17, 2025

Macom awarded $70M in CHIPS funding

The money will be used to expand production of defense semiconductors in Massachussetts and North Carolina.

By Joelle Anselmo • Jan. 15, 2025

EEOC releases guidance on wearables at work

The agency warns that wearable technology in the workplace, such as smartwatches, can violate federal anti-discrimination laws.

By Kathryn Moody • Jan. 14, 2025

Maryland sues Gore-Tex maker over alleged PFAS contamination

The state claims the materials science manufacturer knowingly dumped toxic forever chemicals into state natural resources.

By Sara Samora • Jan. 13, 2025

Treasury finalizes guidance for IRA’s tech neutral, clean electricity tax credits

Industry stakeholders are praising the credits as "game-changing" to better incentivize solar and storage projects to use U.S.-made components.

By Diana DiGangi • Jan. 13, 2025

FDA issues final guidance on lead levels in baby food

The agency set levels as lead poison cases continue to pop up following a 2023 outbreak investigation into Wanabana applesauce pouches.

By Joelle Anselmo • Jan. 10, 2025

EPA finalizes rule banning TCE, PCE chemicals

The agency will phase out degreasing substance trichloroethylene and dry cleaning solvent perchloroethylene to protect workers and consumers from exposure.

By Sara Samora • Jan. 10, 2025

Arizona will host third CHIPS R&D flagship facility

The site in Arizona State University Research Park in Tempe will focus on semiconductor prototyping and packaging. 

By Joelle Anselmo • Jan. 8, 2025

Criminal prosecution possible for employee immigration violations, but enforcement is lax

During Trump's first term, no company was criminally prosecuted for employing workers not authorized to be in the U.S., a Syracuse University project shows.

By Robert Freedman • Jan. 7, 2025

Boeing progresses on manufacturing improvement plan

Despite its new safety measures, FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker wrote recently that the company needs a “fundamental cultural shift.”

By Sara Samora • Jan. 7, 2025

Archer Aviation completes Georgia air taxi factory

The company aims to manufacture two planes monthly by year's end but plans to ramp production up to 650 annually by 2030.

By Dan Zukowski • Jan. 2, 2025

Final rule to overhaul H-1B visa eligibility requirements takes effect Jan. 17

Employers should prepare for potential disruption caused by the rule, according to law firm Fragomen.

By Ryan Golden • Jan. 2, 2025

Qcells finalizes $1.5B DOE loan guarantee for Georgia solar plant

The plant began some production this spring, with plans to start full operations next year.

By Joelle Anselmo • Dec. 20, 2024

Novonix secures $755M DOE loan for Tennessee synthetic graphite facility

The company has signed battery material supply deals with Panasonic Energy, Stellantis and PowerCo from an existing facility in Chattanooga.

By Joelle Anselmo • Dec. 19, 2024

StarPlus Energy finalizes $7.5B DOE loan for two battery plants in Indiana

The Stellantis and Samsung SDI joint venture will produce enough batteries to power 670,000 electric vehicles annually.

By Joelle Anselmo • Dec. 19, 2024

Fed trims main interest rate, signals prospect of less easing in 2025

Policymakers reduced the benchmark interest despite signs that their nearly three-year fight to push down inflation to their 2% target has stalled.

By Jim Tyson • Dec. 19, 2024

Sausage maker cited by OSHA 3 years in a row

Dean Sausage Co.'s latest safety and hazard violations at its Alabama meat processing facility led to $103,000 in fines.

By Joelle Anselmo • Dec. 17, 2024

EPA sets reporting rule for new uses of PFAS in manufacturing

The regulation limits possible exemptions for new forever chemicals and other toxic substances from full federal reviews.

By Sara Samora • Dec. 17, 2024

DOE closes $9.6B loan for Ford’s BlueOval SK battery joint venture

The funds will finance construction of up to three electric vehicle battery plants in the U.S., including two in Kentucky and one in Tennessee.

By Eric Walz • Dec. 17, 2024