According to Taiwan's "China Times News Network" on the 27th, due to the delay in easing of the global " chip shortage", the US Department of Commerce held another semiconductor summit last week, including TSMC , Samsung , Intel and other semiconductor manufacturers attended the meeting. The report quoted Korean media reports that the United States has a tough attitude this time, and on the grounds of improving the "supply chain transparency" of chips, it requires TSMC and Samsung to hand over data such as inventory, orders, sales records, etc. that are considered commercial secrets, which may weaken the bargaining power and competitiveness of major manufacturers.
Taiwan's "China Times News Network" report screenshot
report quoted South Korea's Economic Daily, US Commerce Secretary Raymondo claimed at the semiconductor summit that the U.S. government needs more information about the chip supply chain to "improve transparency in handling the crisis and determine the root cause of the shortage." However, when Raymondo was asked what would be done if the company was unwilling to cooperate with the US government to submit data, Raymondo claimed, "Our toolbox has many ways to allow the operator to pay the data. Although we don't want to go that way, we will definitely take action if necessary."
The US government requires TSMC and other wafer foundries to pay trade secrets from Taiwan's "China Times News Network"
The Korean media said that the United States requires relevant companies to pay company-related data within 45 days, including inventory, sales and customer trade secrets. Such a requirement will put the company in trouble. Industry insiders said, "Disclosing yield information to the outside world means disclosing its own semiconductor technology level. Such information may cause foundries to be in a disadvantageous position in the bargaining process." Other experts from
said that the US government's request for information may affect the price of semiconductor chip market. If a company's chip inventory level is found to be very high, the price may be lowered when bargaining.
South Korea's Economic Daily believes that even if companies are very reluctant to provide their internal data, they are unlikely to reject such a request because the US government is considering taking legal measures to achieve their goals. Sources revealed that the US government is considering using the " Defense Production Law (DPA)" as the basis for forcing relevant companies to submit data.
report also mentioned that multinational companies are also worried that the US government will hand over the information obtained to US companies. Korean semiconductor industry insiders said, "The information submitted by Samsung and TSMC to the US government may be leaked to US companies such as Intel. This is not impossible." In particular, Intel's recent strategic developments are closely related to White House . "Many of Intel's foundry plans are to cooperate with Biden to create local chip production. The industry chain is in line with the initiative of the United States to establish a stronger domestic supply chain. "
In response to this, all walks of life on the island have always been afraid that the United States will think of TSMC. As early as 2019, there were rumors on the island that TSMC was going to set up factories in the United States. According to Taiwan's "Business Times", TSMC Chairman Zhang Zhongmou once revealed in 2019 that the world situation has become quite large in the past two years. TSMC is a very important part of the global IT supply chain and has become a must-fight place for geopolitical strategies. Immediately afterwards, TSMC confirmed that it would build a chip factory in Arizona, USA, with an investment of up to US$12 billion and is expected to be mass-produced in 2024.
Taiwan's "China Times News Network" report screenshot
According to "China Times News Network", for TSMC to set up a factory in the United States, NTU Vice President Tang Mingzhe once proposed a conspiracy theory. He said that the US government gave TSMC tax, land and other preferential treatment, but he may also require TSMC to transfer technology to the US semiconductor manufacturer Intel.
Tang Mingzhe shared his thoughts on TSMC's establishment factory in the United States when participating in the program. Tang Mingzhe said, "Because Intel lost, he started to be anxious after losing. He sought help from the US government. The government asked TSMC to set up a factory. The first step was that there was no problem with how much land and how much it cost to set up a factory in TSMC. But the second step was that the United States wanted to have its own IP, and it would start to require TSMC's technology transfer. Can you say no at that time?"
Tang Mingzhe added that the most important goal of the United States is to improve its semiconductor industry strength, so it will finally ask TSMC to transfer technology. "It is hard to say no. The United States has production equipment and technology, so it will complete semiconductor autonomy."
Foreign investment points on the island Analyst and Chairman of Kirkland Capital Yang Yingchao also believes that TSMC has a strange thing in setting up a factory in the United States. "It is a bit strange to think from the perspective of business or technology. Usually, technology companies set up factories in the United States to serve local customers, but it is not reasonable to go to the parts. So who will do the subsequent packaging when the wafer foundry goes to the United States, and if it needs to be shipped back to Taiwan for testing and then shipped to mainland China for assembly, it is very unreasonable."
Yang Yingchao believes that the purpose behind TSMC's factory in the United States is not simple. Yang Yingchao said, "At least it is not reasonable from the perspective of commercial technology. It may not be that I want to go there. It feels a bit forced to go by the United States, because it is really unreasonable." Yang Yingchao mentioned that whether it is US President Biden and Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger is all about its own interests. To expand the US semiconductor industry, the first step is to find TSMC to set up a factory, and the second step is to develop its own wafer factory.
source/Global Network
edit/Fan Hongwei
