Recently, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) announced an expanded investment in the U.S., adding three additional wafer fabrication plants and one research center to its previously planned facilities. At a think tank discussion held today in Washington D.C., TSMC's Vice President Peter Cleveland mentioned that construction on Arizona Plant 2 is underway, while Plant 3 has yet to break ground. He expressed hope for starting work next week but noted this requires the Trump administration’s assistance with obtaining environmental permits quickly.

The event was themed 'Building a Sustainable and Successful Semiconductor Ecosystem Under the Trump Administration,' hosted by former legislator Hsu Yu-jen of the Hudson Institute, featuring representatives from TSMC, MediaTek, ASML (Netherlands), Tokyo Electron (Japan) among others. Peter Cleveland stated that America is an ideal location for expansion while Taiwan remains its 'home base.' He emphasized the importance of producing high-end chips in Phoenix to support U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence but acknowledged challenges such as higher labor costs and structural issues within the American market.

Regarding export control complexities with China, TSMC has been communicating well with Trump's team. Cleveland noted that 75% of their business is based in America while only about 10% involves China. Jonathan Hoganson from ASML highlighted the need for clear regulations defining permissible actions and those not allowed. Patrick Wilson from MediaTek stressed a stable regulatory environment to facilitate major investment decisions, emphasizing policies should promote innovation within the semiconductor industry.