TSMC(US:TSM) Guan Cha Zhe Wang·2025-09-03 00:03Core Viewpoint - The U.S. government will revoke TSMC's exemption for shipping critical equipment to its factories in China starting next year, which may weaken TSMC's production capacity and lead to delivery delays [1][3]. Group 1: Impact on TSMC - TSMC announced that it received notification from the U.S. government regarding the revocation of its "Verified End User" (VEU) status for its Nanjing factory, effective December 31, 2025 [1]. - Following the revocation, TSMC will need to apply for export licenses to ship U.S. chip manufacturing tools to its factories in China, which could complicate operations [1][3]. - TSMC is committed to ensuring uninterrupted operations at its Nanjing factory while evaluating the situation and communicating with the U.S. government [1]. Group 2: Broader Industry Implications - The policy change poses risks to the operations of semiconductor giants in China, with potential delays in delivery due to uncertainties surrounding the speed of license approvals [3]. - TSMC's U.S.-listed American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) fell by up to 2.3% following the announcement, indicating market concern [3]. - Major suppliers to TSMC, including Applied Materials, ASML, Tokyo Electron, and KLA, also experienced stock price declines, reflecting broader market impacts from the export restrictions [3]. Group 3: U.S. Export Control Context - The U.S. government previously banned the sale of advanced process chips and manufacturing equipment to China, with exemptions granted to South Korean companies Samsung and SK Hynix, which are now also facing revoked exemptions [4]. - The U.S. Commerce Department plans to issue licenses to allow companies to continue operating existing facilities in China but will not permit capacity expansion or technology upgrades [4]. - The U.S. government's actions are seen as detrimental to the global semiconductor supply chain, with China expressing strong opposition and warning of necessary measures to protect its companies [4]. Group 4: Challenges in U.S. Export Licensing - The U.S. is facing a significant backlog of license requests, with thousands of applications from U.S. companies for global exports, including to China, currently stalled [5]. - Industry leaders are concerned that prolonged delays in license approvals will result in lost market share to competitors, as Chinese clients seek alternative suppliers [5]. - The lack of progress in the licensing process is causing frustration within the industry, with no clear timeline for when licenses will be issued [5].