WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – Congressional negotiators are expected to meet on Thursday in order to begin formal negotiations to reach a compromise that would provide $52 billion for semiconductor manufacturing subsidies to boost U.S. competition with Chinese technology.

While the Senate passed the bill’s version in June 2021 and the House a comparable bill in February, the House did not. A “conference committee”, consisting of more than 100 Senate and House lawmakers, will convene for their first meeting Thursday. It is expected to allow open discussions. It could take several months until a definitive agreement is reached, according to aides.