Specified in the U.S. Federal Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) Report
Samsung Electronics has recently confirmed that it signed a contract with a lobbying firm affiliated with Katie Wiles, the daughter of Suzy Wiles, the White House Chief of Staff overseeing U.S. President Donald Trump's advisory team.
According to the U.S. Federal Senate Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) report on the 27th (local time), Samsung Electronics' U.S. subsidiary signed a contract on the 17th with the lobbying and consulting firm 'Continental Strategy.'
This firm is where Katie Wiles, the daughter of Chief of Staff Suzy Wiles, is affiliated. Continental Strategy promoted Katie immediately after the announcement of Suzy Wiles' appointment as Chief of Staff on November 8, right after last year's presidential election. However, Katie Wiles was not registered as a lobbyist for Samsung Electronics.
The report lists Carlos Trujillo, the firm's CEO and founder; Alberto Martinez, who served as Chief of Staff to Senator Marco Rubio when he was Secretary of State; and Daniel Gomez, a former aide to Republican Senator Deb Fischer, as lobbyists. The report states that they will conduct lobbying activities related to "telecommunications, home appliances, semiconductors, and issues concerning supply chains and trade."
Given that President Trump has continuously mentioned imposing tariffs on semiconductor products since his inauguration, and that the Biden administration enacted the CHIPS Act providing subsidies to semiconductor companies investing in the U.S. but is now calling for its repeal, Samsung Electronics is facing a concerning situation.
Samsung Electronics is currently constructing a foundry (semiconductor contract manufacturing) plant in Taylor, Texas, and is set to receive subsidies amounting to $4.745 billion (approximately 6.8 trillion KRW) from the U.S. Department of Commerce, but has not yet received the payment.
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