Could we see more chipmaking action in the US, beyond mere fabrication? Whispers are circulating that TSMC, the Taiwan semiconductor giant, is now exploring whether to set up a plant for advanced chip packaging right here in the United States. As per industry watchers, this could be yet another smart strategic move to sidestep potential trade tensions and forge stronger ties with the US.
Tariff Talking Trump Sparks Action
What would drive TSMC to even be considering this? The political landscape. Former President Trump has been vocal about wanting to bring the chipmakers back to the States, and even proposed high tariffs on chips made in Taiwan. This has apparently alerted TSMC to reconsider its strategy here in America.
Trump remains very clear about this: He and basically every major semiconductor maker have been criticizing the currently proposed laws, and he believes a tariff would be an incentive for chipmakers to relocate production to the US. He has been quoted in the press saying tariffs like 25 percent, 50 percent, or even 100 percent on chips made in foreign territories. That obviously got TSMC very thinking about risk mitigation.
Packaging Facility To Satisfy and Expand?
So what would a packaging facility have to do with it? Building advanced packaging in the US could be TSMC's way to show a serious intent for semiconductor production in the US, which may lighten the tariff pressures and establish goodwill with the US administration.
Not just tariffs, however. There is also strong market demand for advanced packaging, especially with CoWoS technology, which is important for AI chips. Establishing a package facility in the US would allow TSMC to supply this demand already growing iniz of government support.
Expansion Underway For the United States
TSMC is also heavily involved in manufacturing in the US, with its gigantic Arizona fab factory. Reportedly, things are accelerating on site, with the possibility of starting 2nm production sometime in 2028. A packaging facility would be an obvious next step and would create a rather full US-based semiconductor ecosystem for TSMC.
The Future Beyond Now
Whether this highly rumored packaging plant will ever materialize is left to be seen. All in all, this simply emphasizes the complex aspects of geopolitical relationships and the semiconductor industry worldwide. TSMC's prospective move hints at how political environments plus market chances are shaping what would be the next era of chip manufacturing and where the critical technologies would be produced.
