TSMC Arizona's first chip manufacturing on November 7, 2024
Katie Tarasoff
US President-elect Donald Trump accused Taiwan of “stealing” his country's chip industry. But Taiwan's largest chip company is confident that the Trump administration will continue to fund its projects in the United States
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company He was It promised $6.6 billion Under the administration of Joe Biden Chips and science law To help build three advanced chip manufacturing plants in Arizona as part of the US effort Onshore chip manufacturing.
Speaking with CNBC's Emily Tan in an exclusive interview, TSMC CFO Wendell Huang said funding is expected to continue gradually under Trump as manufacturing plants go through construction and production phases.
“In fact, in the fourth quarter, we already received the first tranche of government support,” Haung said, revealing that the contract chip manufacturer received funds worth $1.5 billion.
Follow some Production delaysHuang said the first manufacturing plant in Arizona began producing advanced chips in the fourth quarter of last year. He added that two factories have been built in Arizona He was on track and expected to be second Operational in 2028.
TSMC First investment The project in Arizona was announced in May 2020, with the company's investments in its three projects there eventually totaling more than $65 billion.
Most of the investments were committed after the Biden administration signed the bipartisan agreement Potato chip law In August 2022, commit Nearly $53 billion To invest in the domestic semiconductor supply chain and take on China.
While the next president is also expected to do so Competition with China Moving manufacturing back home was a priority in his second term debate On whether Trump and the Republican-led House will reconsider the CHIPS Act.
During his campaign for the White House, Trump publicly criticized the bill and its price, arguing instead that tariffs were a more effective strategy for domestic chip manufacturing. The president-elect also accused Taiwan of “theft“US chip business.
However, industry experts told CNBC they expect Trump to abandon the policy Mostly intact Because of bipartisan support in Washington.
TSMC on Thursday Reported record profits for the fourth quarter due to strong demand for its AI chips, which sent its shares up nearly 4%. Shares closed up 1.36% on Friday.
In an earnings call following the results, CEO and Chairman CC Wei highlighted TSMC's “good and long-standing relationship” with the US government and the commitment and support it has received at the federal, state and city levels.
“Let me assure you that we have very frank and open communications with the current government and with the future government as well,” he said in response to a question from an investor.
On Thursday, Wei also said the company would not attend Trump's inauguration because it prefers to keep a low profile, according to a report from Reuters.
