[News] Potential U.S. Tariffs on Taiwan Semiconductors Spark Calls for Stronger U.S.-Taiwan Tech Cooperation

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According to an interview with Central News Agency, former director of TSMC’s R&D Division, Guang-lei Yang, warns that if U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed tariff policy is implemented, it could significantly affect both Taiwan and the U.S..

Young points out that if the tariff plan proposed by the Trump administration is implemented, Taiwanese semiconductor companies will face a significant increase in costs, which could, in turn, lead to a sharp rise in chip prices in the U.S. market.

Therefore, in response to the potential chip tariff, Yang suggests that Taiwan should focus on leveraging its strengths in semiconductor manufacturing while deepening collaboration with the U.S..

On the 7th, Trump announced that he might introduce reciprocal tariff measures within the week, with markets speculating that Taiwan and other key trade partners could be among the targets, as the report highlights.

The report indicates that Taiwan and the U.S. have a long-established partnership in the semiconductor industry. Taiwan, with strong government support and deep collaboration with the U.S., has been actively developing its semiconductor sector. Companies like TSMC have become key players in the global foundry industry, playing a crucial role in the international supply chain.

Yang emphasizes that Taiwan’s success is not only a result of sustained investment in semiconductor technology but also its strong partnerships with U.S. firms.

Strengthening U.S.-Taiwan Semiconductor Collaboration

Yang suggests that Taiwan could transfer certain semiconductor technologies to the U.S. to foster joint development in key areas, including AI-driven semiconductor manufacturing, smart production, and niche markets such as defense and military applications.

A notable example of successful U.S.-Taiwan semiconductor collaboration is the partnership between United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC) and Intel, as Yang points out.

UMC, one of the world’s leading semiconductor manufacturers, launched a 12nm technology collaboration with Intel in 2024. The report notes that this initiative focuses on developing a 12nm process platform, combining Intel’s large-scale manufacturing capacity in the U.S. with UMC’s expertise in mature process wafer foundry. Yang highlights that this mutually beneficial cooperation model not only benefits both companies but also brings greater innovation momentum to the global semiconductor industry.

Read more

• [News] UMC Ventures into US Production of 12nm Mature Chips through Collaboration with Intel
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