The United States is an authoritarian country, and Japan feels deeply about this. It is related to the relationship of interests. The United States only allows to lean toward itself. The recent requirements of the United States government on TSMC are not even seen by Japan.
“The rare request made by the U.S. government to TSMC and other large semiconductor companies is making waves. Since the global semiconductor shortage has not been alleviated, in late September, the U.S. required large companies to submit detailed information about supply within 45 days. Companies objected that this is a “confidential matter.” In the face of the U.S.’s arrogant practices, distrust is growing.”
The story goes back to September 23 this year, when the U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo (Gina Raimondo) set up a “Hongmen Banquet”. At that time, she convened overseas semiconductor giants TSMC and Samsung to participate in a meeting, ostensibly discussing alleviating the global semiconductor shortage. problem. Raimondo stated that the supply of semiconductors in the past few months has been deteriorating and the US government has no choice but to deal with it. She pointed the finger directly at the representatives of the companies present: “Who has over-issued orders? Who has not delivered as expected? (Semiconductor supply) The process) is not transparent as a whole. Guys, this won’t work.” How can it work? “(Raymondo)’s true meaning became clear the day after the meeting. It turned out that the U.S. authorities requested TSMC and others to provide detailed information on semiconductor supply within the deadline of November 8.”
It is hard to believe that the United States has reasonable power to require companies from other countries to comply with such restrictions. However, Japan, which experienced the “Toshiba Incident” in the 1980s, has more than anyone else felt the determination of the United States to give priority to competition and is so great that it can impose sanctions on Toshiba, which previously had an advantage in the semiconductor market, even more than today’s sanctions against Huawei. Toshiba’s method forcefully drags you off the horse and requires you to publicly admit your mistake: The United States punishes Toshiba for providing Toshiba with precision technology to the Soviet Union. In 1987, Toshiba executives went to the United States to explain the incident and spent a huge amount of money to publish apology advertisements in 50 media.
TSMC started with American technology and policies, and was cultivated after the Toshiba incident; TSMC, founded in 1987, benefited from the US semiconductor industry’s break in vertical manufacturing (IDM)—referring to design, manufacturing, packaging and testing, and sales of its own brands , A single-handed semiconductor integration model—processes are decentralized. TSMC has been focusing on modern industrial production for many years, helping the United States to concentrate on the development of upstream technology and research and development patent projects. However, this is how the United States has exported semiconductor production capacity overseas. “The U.S.’s semiconductor production capacity is only over 10% of the world’s, most of which are concentrated in East Asia such as Taiwan and South Korea. The U.S.’s attempt to control the semiconductor supply chain itself faced numerous difficulties from the very beginning.” Today’s TSMC is not a prestige. , But became the object of American worries and worries.
American Semiconductor’s dependence on TSMC has aroused suspicion. (Profile picture)
Raimundo’s requirements, specifically, involve a wide range of content such as customer information, customer order status, inventory and delivery date. “The Nikkei” stated: “This information obviously involves the technology and experience of the company, and it is also a trade secret. It is required to submit this information within 45 days, “it is the arrogant practice of the United States.” The semiconductor industry in Taiwan and South Korea immediately objected to this. The voice of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd. and Samsung are even more worried that data may flow into the US rival Intel, which will greatly harm the interests of enterprises. What can be done under the authority of the United States?
Raimundo hinted at the meeting that if it refuses to provide information, the US government will not hesitate to use the National Defense Production Act (DPA), which grants compulsory licenses that can directly control the industry. In other words, “it is in fact compulsory to provide information.” There is a more terrifying method. It is Japan’s Toshiba. TSMC has the most micro-nano process, but it is incapable of producing a “sand pot” to make a gall. How about?
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