A Taiwanese official has made strong assertions regarding TSMC’s significant investments in the United States, labeling these moves as essential strategies to maintain their competitive edge against rivals in the region.
TSMC’s Investments: A Strategic Move to Maintain Competitive Edge and Meet Customer Needs
The response from Taiwanese citizens and officials towards TSMC’s engagement in the US semiconductor market has been largely skeptical. Many fear that this might lead to an undesirable ‘technology transfer’ to the United States. However, it’s crucial to note that a substantial portion of TSMC’s client roster comprises American firms, including industry leaders like NVIDIA, AMD, and Apple. This dynamic highlights the importance of US policies to the Taiwanese chip manufacturer. A report from Ctee, quoting Taiwan’s former EU envoy Roy Chun Lee, suggests that TSMC’s US investments serve as a strategy to redirect US governmental focus away from Intel.
If Taiwanese people oppose TSMC’s investment in the US and demand that it remain in Taiwan, Lee Chun said that would damage the trust between TSMC and its customers, and the US might then go all out to support Intel.“We shouldn’t force others to support TSMC’s competitor.”- Ctee (Machine Translated)
Analyzing TSMC’s dominant role within the US chip landscape, it becomes clear that these investments were indeed critical, especially as American customers seek a reliable supply chain. The discussion regarding TSMC’s substantial $165 billion investment initiative began during the Biden administration, primarily aimed at attracting semiconductor production back to the US. Preventing Intel from reclaiming market attention appears to have also been a motivating factor for TSMC’s large-scale investments.

If TSMC had neglected to invest in US facilities, not only would the company encounter substantial tariffs, but firms like NVIDIA and Apple might have been compelled to explore in-house production capabilities. Intel remains the sole competitor alongside TSMC capable of manufacturing advanced node chips within the US. Therefore, it’s important to note that TSMC’s expansion into American territory poses a significant challenge to Intel’s production goals, as the latter transitions from a primary supplier to merely an alternative option.
To date, TSMC’s investments in the United States have yielded impressive results, positioning the company to develop cutting-edge nodes, including the A16 at a remarkable 1.6nm. Additionally, TSMC plans to enhance its operational footprint in the US to adequately meet increasing demand from its clientele.
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