Mei Ri Jing Ji Xin Wen·2025-09-30 12:05Core Viewpoint - The U.S. government is pushing for a significant reduction in reliance on Taiwan for semiconductor production, proposing a "chip 50-50" plan to redistribute chip manufacturing back to the U.S. to mitigate security risks [1][10]. Group 1: U.S. Government Actions - The U.S. Commerce Secretary has suggested that the U.S. should reduce its dependence on Taiwan's chip production by half, which has sparked strong reactions from Taiwan's political and public spheres [1]. - A new tariff proposal is being considered by the U.S. government, which would impose tariffs on imported electronic devices based on the estimated value of the chips they contain, aiming to encourage domestic manufacturing [2][4]. - The Trump administration is contemplating a requirement for semiconductor companies to maintain a 1:1 ratio of chips produced domestically to those imported, with potential tariff penalties for non-compliance [2][4]. Group 2: Challenges Faced by TSMC and Samsung - TSMC's factory in Arizona has reportedly incurred losses of approximately 1.7 trillion Korean won (about 8.65 billion RMB) over the past four years, raising concerns about its future profitability as it enters mass production [6]. - Samsung is investing 24 trillion Korean won (approximately 122.2 billion RMB) in a wafer foundry in Texas, but is facing challenges due to a lack of large-scale orders, making its situation more precarious than TSMC's [8]. Group 3: Broader Implications for the Semiconductor Industry - The U.S. Treasury Secretary has indicated that the U.S. is working to diversify its semiconductor supply chain to reduce risks associated with Taiwan's dominance in high-end chip production [9][10]. - The potential for the U.S. government to acquire stakes in semiconductor companies, such as Intel, is being discussed as a means to stabilize domestic chip production [10][11]. - The ongoing discussions and proposed policies could complicate the already intricate tariff system, potentially leading to increased operational challenges for semiconductor manufacturers [4].