Taiwanese chipmaker TSMC has suspended chip production for Chinese semiconductor design companies from November 11th.
The company will stop manufacturing AI chips using advanced process nodes below 7nm for customers in China, FT reported.
The decision comes after it was revealed that the US government had launched an investigation after being notified that a customer had ordered a chip similar to Huawei‘s Ascend 910B from TSMC.
TSMC previously manufactured a predecessor to this chip for Huawei, but has not done business with the company since US sanctions were imposed in 2020. There is no evidence that TSMC knowingly or maliciously violated US sanctions.
The FT also cited people familiar with the matter, saying TSMC’s decision was driven in part by a need to improve internal controls, but also in anticipation of additional export controls that President Biden may enact before he leaves office. It was reported that it was also for the purpose of
The company also reports that it is wary of becoming a target of the incoming Trump administration, and is particularly wary of President Trump’s comments disparaging Taiwan’s chip industry.
In an interview with Joe Rogan before the 2024 election, Trump said: “Taiwan has stolen our chip business. They want us to protect them, but they won’t pay us for protection. The mafia will make them pay, right? But we… These countries that we protect are getting hundreds of billions of dollars from NATO countries that don’t pay us.”
He made similar remarks in July, saying that “the payments are like protection fees.”
TSMC’s 2nm chip production postponed in Arizona has been postponed
Also this week, it was confirmed that Taiwan’s technology protection regulations currently prohibit TSMC from producing 2nm chips overseas. This means the company cannot start producing 2nm chips at its Arizona facility any earlier than previously announced.
In comments reported by Taipei Times, Economic Affairs Director JW Kuo said, “TSMC is currently unable to produce 2nm chips overseas because Taiwan has relevant regulations to protect its own technology.” Masu.
The law stipulates that Taiwanese chipmakers can only produce chips overseas that are at least one generation older than chips produced in domestic factories. This means that TSMC will be able to produce 2nm chips overseas in the future, but not until the next generation chip A-16 is mass produced in Taiwan, and overseas production is expected to be in late 2026. Masu.
Production of 2nm chips at the company’s Arizona factory is currently scheduled for 2028.
This article is published by Overseas Data Center Dynamics.articleThis is an abridged translation for Japan by Data Center Cafe.
