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US Finalizes $6.6 Billion Chips Subsidy for TSMC Ahead of Trump’s Presidency

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The U.S. Commerce Department announced on Friday the completion of a $6.6 billion subsidy deal with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) to support semiconductor production in Phoenix, Arizona. The agreement, part of the $52.7 billion Chips and Science Act, marks the program’s first major award since its inception in 2022.

Deal Highlights

  • Expanded Investment: TSMC agreed to increase its total Arizona investment from $40 billion to $65 billion, adding a third fab in Arizona by 2030.
  • Advanced Manufacturing: TSMC will produce 2-nanometer technology chips at its second Arizona fab, set to begin production in 2028. It will also deploy its A16 chip manufacturing technology, one of the world’s most advanced.
  • Financial Structure: In addition to the $6.6 billion subsidy, the agreement includes up to $5 billion in low-cost government loans. Payments will be tied to project milestones, with at least $1 billion expected to be released by year-end 2024.

Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo highlighted the strategic importance of the deal, emphasizing its role in ensuring the U.S. produces cutting-edge chips domestically. “We had to convince TSMC that they would want to expand,” she said, stressing the economic and national security implications of the agreement.

National Security and Policy Concerns

The announcement comes amid heightened scrutiny of semiconductor technology exports to China. On Saturday, reports emerged that the Commerce Department had instructed TSMC to halt shipments of advanced chips to Chinese customers. Raimondo did not confirm the directive but stated, “Investing in TSMC to expand here is offense—defense is ensuring our most sophisticated technology does not reach adversaries like China.”

The subsidy agreement also requires TSMC to forgo stock buybacks for five years and share excess profits with the U.S. government under an “upside sharing agreement.”

Context and Challenges

The Chips and Science Act was designed to bolster domestic semiconductor production, a critical industry where the U.S. lags behind global leaders. Currently, no leading-edge chips are produced domestically. TSMC CEO C.C. Wei called the deal a key accelerator for advancing U.S. chip manufacturing capabilities.

However, President-elect Donald Trump has criticized the Chips Act, raising questions about the program’s future under his administration. Meanwhile, Commerce has allocated additional funds for other semiconductor projects, including $6.4 billion for Samsung in Texas, $8.5 billion for Intel, and $6.1 billion for Micron Technology. Raimondo aims to finalize these agreements before President Joe Biden leaves office in January.

Geopolitical Implications

The U.S. push for semiconductor independence underscores broader strategic concerns about global supply chains and national security. Raimondo reiterated the importance of balancing offensive and defensive strategies, ensuring subsidies support U.S. technological leadership while preventing advanced technologies from reaching competitors like China.

Outlook

With TSMC’s increased commitment and advanced chip production capabilities, the U.S. aims to regain its footing in the global semiconductor market. However, challenges remain, including Trump’s potential policy changes and the delicate geopolitical balance with China.

 

OpenAI Partners with Broadcom and TSMC to Create First Custom Chip, Reduces Foundry Plans

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OpenAI is collaborating with Broadcom and TSMC to develop its first custom-designed chip aimed at enhancing its artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure. This move comes as the company looks to manage the growing demands of its AI systems, especially those powering popular tools like ChatGPT. To complement its own chip efforts, OpenAI is also integrating AMD chips alongside its existing Nvidia chips to optimize its computational power and meet the increasing infrastructure needs.

In an effort to diversify its chip supply and reduce reliance on a single manufacturer, OpenAI has explored several strategies. The company has evaluated the feasibility of producing chips entirely in-house, a path that would allow for more control over the technology but would come with significant financial and logistical challenges. One of the most ambitious options was to build a network of “foundries,” or manufacturing plants, dedicated to producing its own chips.

However, sources reveal that OpenAI has now decided to scale back on its foundry ambitions. The high costs and lengthy timelines associated with constructing and operating such a network proved to be more than the company was willing to commit to at this stage. Instead, OpenAI has opted to focus on developing its in-house chip design capabilities, partnering with established manufacturers like Broadcom and TSMC to bring these innovations to life.

This shift in strategy reflects OpenAI’s careful balance between innovation and practicality. By leveraging the expertise of industry leaders in chip manufacturing, the company aims to streamline its AI infrastructure while keeping costs in check. This approach allows OpenAI to scale its operations efficiently without sacrificing the cutting-edge performance that its AI systems require.

U.S. Orders TSMC to Halt AI Chip Shipments to China Amid Escalating Tech Export Controls

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The U.S. government has directed Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) to cease shipments of advanced chips used in artificial intelligence (AI) applications to Chinese customers as of Monday. According to a source familiar with the order, the U.S. Department of Commerce issued a notice to TSMC restricting the export of specific advanced chips, including 7-nanometer designs and below, often deployed in AI accelerators and GPUs, to Chinese entities.

This new export restriction follows recent revelations by TSMC regarding one of its chips found within a Huawei AI processor. Tech Insights, a technology research firm, had disassembled the Huawei processor and discovered TSMC’s involvement, potentially indicating an export control breach. Huawei, which is on the U.S. restricted trade list, is required to secure special licensing for any U.S.-derived technology imports. Such licenses are unlikely to be granted if they would benefit Huawei’s AI capabilities.

In response to the U.S. directive, TSMC has begun notifying Chinese clients affected by the suspension of AI and GPU chip shipments, including Sophgo, a China-based chip designer that used similar TSMC technology in a Huawei product. It remains unclear how the chip ended up in Huawei’s Ascend 910B AI processor, one of China’s most advanced AI chips.

The latest U.S. clampdown comes as lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have voiced concerns about the efficacy and enforcement of export controls on China. In recent years, the Commerce Department has issued similar restrictions to companies like Nvidia, AMD, and several chip equipment manufacturers to limit AI-related technology exports to China. Restrictions initially introduced via “is-informed” letters, like those now sent to TSMC, were later formalized into broader regulatory rules affecting additional companies.

This move reflects Washington’s continuing strategy to limit China’s access to advanced AI and chipmaking technologies. The Biden administration has drafted new export control rules targeting Chinese chipmaking and related companies and aimed to update the Commerce Department’s entity list, which would include over 120 Chinese companies. However, despite these plans, the proposed rules remain delayed, missing anticipated release dates earlier this year.