Taiwan’s TSMC, the world’s largest semiconductor manufacturer, has notified its Chinese customers that it will not accept orders for semiconductors less than 7nm (nanometers, 1nm is 1 billionth of a meter) from the 11th, the Financial Times (FT) reported.
Citing sources, FT said on the 8th (local time) that TSMC has notified Chinese customers that it will not accept orders for artificial intelligence semiconductors below 7nm from the 11th. FT quoted the source as saying that TSMC will need a U.S. approval process to supply such semiconductors to Chinese customers in the future.
Regarding TSMC’s move, the FT and other foreign media viewed it as a move to send a signal to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump that Taiwan is cooperative. An official familiar with TSMC’s situation told the FT, “It is not a show for Trump, but to emphasize that he does not act against the U.S. national interest.”
Some news reports said TSMC’s action is the decision of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Citing sources, Reuters reported on Wednesday that the U.S. Department of Commerce sent an official letter to TSMC imposing restrictions on exports of semiconductors smaller than 7 nm to China. The U.S. Department of Commerce did not disclose its position on the report.
JULIE KIM
US ASIA JOURNAL
