TSMC Arizona site to be visited by President Biden
5-nano followed by 3/4-nano semiconductor chips likely to begin production in US
French President Macron calls IRA “aggressive to French business people”
German Deputy Chancellor Habek: “The EU will respond with similar measures”
The United States is accelerating the process of strengthening its semiconductor supply chain. US President Joe Biden decided to visit the TSMC semiconductor factory in Taiwan following the SK Siltron factory. It is trying to ease tensions over the semiconductor supply chain by sending a conciliatory message to China. However, allies such as France and Germany raised the level of criticism of the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and a harsh response was predicted.
The White House visited the TSMC factory on the 6th
On the 30th (local time), the White House issued a press release and announced that “President Biden will visit the TSMC factory in Phoenix, Arizona, on the 6th of next month.” The purpose of the visit is to discuss plans for revitalizing manufacturing in the United States, rebuilding supply chains, and creating decent jobs. TMSC is building a semiconductor production base in Arizona with an investment of 12 billion dollars (about 16.6 trillion won). TSMC is scheduled to hold the first production equipment rollout ceremony in accordance with the presence of President Biden on this day. US Commerce Secretary Gina Lamondo and TMSC founder Zhang Zhongmou, former chairman of TSMC, will also attend.
In line with President Biden’s visit, TSMC also professes to expand semiconductor production in the United States. On the 21st, Chairman Jang said, “We will also establish a 3-nanometer chip factory at the site in Arizona where we have a 5-nanometer process semiconductor chip factory (nm, 1 nm is 1 billionth of a meter). has been revealed indirectly. The prospects for the production of 4-nanometer chips have also emerged. Bloomberg News reported on the 1st that “TMSC will deliver 4-nanometer chips from its Arizona plant in time for operation next year,” and that “Apple will use a third of the plant’s production.”
This visit has a strong character to emphasize that the United States is strengthening its semiconductor supply chain. On the 29th, President Biden also visited SK Siltron’s (disk semiconductor) wafer factory in Michigan and expressed his willingness to strengthen the supply chain, saying, “I will not be (China’s) hostage anymore.” It appears that he is trying to resolve the conflict with China, which competes for the semiconductor market. On the 30th, Secretary Lamond said, “We are not trying to disengage from China’s economy,” and “we are trying to promote trade and investment in areas that do not threaten our core economy, national security interests, or human rights values.” It was emphasized. “Trade with China can bring profits to American companies and provide jobs for workers,” he added.
France, Germany criticize the IRA and press for withdrawal
US allies are resisting the Biden administration’s strengthening of the semiconductor supply chain. According to AFP, French President Emmanuel Macron said at a dinner with US lawmakers at the Capitol in Washington, DC, on the 30th, “The IRA is very aggressive towards French business people. The United States can solve the problem, but getting bigger will only be our problem.” ” he noted. He also expressed his dissatisfaction with the United States, saying, “Nobody called me when the IRA was being discussed.”
President Macron will hold a summit with President Biden on the 1st. Politico, a political media outlet, explained on the 30th that “President Macron visited the United States to persuade it to withdraw its protectionist policies.” On the 29th, Germany’s Deputy Chancellor and Minister of Economics and Climate Protection Robert Habek also announced a ‘fight’ against the IRA regulation, saying, “The EU will respond with similar measures.” “The regulation that (electric vehicles) must be produced in the United States is incompatible with the standards of the World Trade Organization (WTO),” he added. “The German government is determined to act decisively.”
The US continues to protect the IRA despite opposition from its allies. White House spokeswoman Carine Jean-Pierre responded to a reporter asking about President Macron’s criticism of the IRA on the 30th, saying, “The IRA will provide significant opportunities for European companies as well as benefits for EU energy security.” It is by no means a zero-sum game.” The US and EU are scheduled to discuss the IRA issue at the Trade Technology Council (TTC) to be held in Washington, DC on the 5th.
Reporter Lee Joo-hyun deep@hankyung.com
