京报锐评｜台积电还经得起美国剥几次皮

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the implications of a recent trade agreement between the U.S. and Taiwan, highlighting concerns over U.S. intentions to dominate Taiwan's semiconductor industry, particularly targeting TSMC's operations in the U.S. [1] Group 1: Trade Agreement Details - The U.S. has reduced tariffs on Taiwanese goods from 20% to 15% in exchange for a commitment from Taiwanese chip companies to invest at least $250 billion in U.S. semiconductor production [1] - TSMC is expected to build five additional fabs in Arizona as part of this investment, with Taiwan's government required to provide $250 billion in credit guarantees [1] Group 2: U.S. Intentions and Reactions - U.S. Commerce Secretary stated that this investment is essentially a $500 billion down payment to bring semiconductor production back to the U.S., indicating a strategic move rather than a genuine trade partnership [1] - There is a perception in Taiwan that the agreement is exploitative, with local media and citizens expressing concerns about TSMC being "skinned" multiple times and questioning the rationale behind such investments in the U.S. instead of Taiwan [1] Group 3: TSMC's Challenges - TSMC's operational costs in the U.S. are significantly higher, with labor costs over twice that of Taiwan and depreciation costs four times higher, while profit margins are substantially lower [1] - Former TSMC leadership has acknowledged that building factories in the U.S. is driven by political pressures and is more costly than anticipated, leading to concerns about the long-term viability of these investments [1] Group 4: Broader Implications - The article suggests that the U.S. aims to transform TSMC into a U.S.-centric entity, potentially undermining Taiwan's semiconductor industry and reducing its role to a low-end processing position within the global supply chain [1] - Historical parallels are drawn to past U.S. actions against other countries' industries, indicating a pattern of undermining foreign competitors to maintain technological dominance [1]