July 31 (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Trade Commission

cleared quantum computing firm IonQ's ( IONQ ) $1.8 billion

acquisition of chipmaker SkyWater Technology ( SKYT ) after the

agency's leaders disagreed over whether to impose conditions,

they said on Friday.

* Chairman Andrew Ferguson said in a statement that he had

proposed requiring IonQ ( IONQ ) to agree to granting fair access to

rival quantum computing companies, some of whom have ongoing

contracts with SkyWater ( SKYT ), among other measures to protect

competition as the U.S. adds chip manufacturing capacity.

* Commissioner Mark Meador said in a statement that he

believes the merger would not lessen competition.

* Because the two could not agree on an order setting

conditions, "the next-best option is to get out of the way and

permit the merger to close," Ferguson said.

* SkyWater ( SKYT ) is the largest semiconductor foundry based in the

U.S., according to the company.