TSMC Plans First-Time Board Meetings in the US to Discuss Possible Trump-imposed Tariffs

[AleksandarK]

TSMC is set to hold its inaugural board meeting on US soil on February 12—a strategic decision influenced by potential reciprocal tariffs outlined by the US President Donald Trump. As the company's first wafer fabrication facility in Arizona is in mass production using its 4 nm process, the US board meeting marks a first in TSMC's global expansion, where the company is holding a board meeting outside of Taiwan for the first time in its four-decade history. The board gathering, which will bring together directors from its Taiwan headquarters and overseas operational sites, comes amid concerns over possible US tariff measures targeting key trade partners, including Taiwan. Trump recently hinted at imposing tariffs on semiconductor products, which could directly affects TSMC's business operations.

Among the attendees will be Liu Jingqing, a director representing Taiwan's National Development Fund Management Committee, the company's largest shareholder holding 1.65 billion shares. Liu, who left for the United States on February 8, is expected to return to Taiwan immediately after the meeting, ensuring the board remains aligned with upcoming legislative sessions. During the meeting, the board will review the financial results for the fourth quarter and decide on cash dividends for 2024. Despite uncertainties over US tariffs, TSMC continues to expand its US investments. Its second and third fabs in Arizona, expected to employ more advanced processes such as 3 nm and 2 nm, show the company's long-term commitment to the American market while it continues advancing process and packaging capacity in Taiwan. TSMC Chairman C.C. Wei stressed that advancing mass production in Taiwan remains critical even while expanding US operations.



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[Jomale]

Are the US-Customers already known, and is TSMC even booked therefore?

 

[Mack4285]

These upcoming tariffs only have one purpose, to force move TSMC expertise, fabs and technology to U.S soil in exchange for absolutely nothing.

 

[GodisanAtheist]

These upcoming tariffs only have one purpose, to force move TSMC expertise, fabs and technology to U.S soil in exchange for absolutely nothing.

- TSMC is the one that has everyone else by the balls here. Ok so there are tariffs... where is anyone else supposed to get advanced node microchips fabbed?

They'll just pay the import tariff, pass the cost along to the customer, and then call it a day.

 

[freeagent]

These upcoming tariffs only have one purpose

To break economies and take countries over.

 

[tonyw]

The last thing TSMC wants is for their smallest scale fabs to be anywhere but in Taiwan. The US and much of the rest of the world gets their highest density chips from TSMC in Taiwan. If China tries to invade Taiwan then the Western world will need to protect them or face many years of high tech chip shortages as TSMC is years ahead of other fab companies. TSMC is Taiwan's largest company and biggest exporter and wants to maintain a reason for the West to protect their sovereignty.

 

[Why_Me]

The last thing TSMC wants is for their smallest scale fabs to be anywhere but in Taiwan. The US and much of the rest of the world gets their highest density chips from TSMC in Taiwan. If China tries to invade Taiwan then the Western world will need to protect them or face many years of high tech chip shortages as TSMC is years ahead of other fab companies. TSMC is Taiwan's largest company and biggest exporter and wants to maintain a reason for the West to protect their sovereignty.

'The Western world' ... that means the US. It's easier for the US to have TSMC relocate those fabs to the US then for the US to fight China in China's backyard and that's the reason why those fabs will eventually be relocated to the US.

 

[tonyw]

'The Western world' ... that means the US. It's easier for the US to have TSMC relocate those fabs to the US then for the US to fight China in China's backyard and that's the reason why those fabs will eventually be relocated to the US.

The Western world includes EU countries with a similar level of chip demand to the US.
TSMC have said they will not relocate the current best fabs outside Taiwan. I suspect this is protection against China invading.

 

[Why_Me]

The Western world includes EU countries with a similar level of chip demand to the US.
TSMC have said they will not relocate the current best fabs outside Taiwan. I suspect this is protection against China invading.

The US has less red tape and lower taxes than the EU which is why the EU lags behind the US in innovation. That and you need a real military including a navy to take on China which leaves the EU out of the picture in that regard.