Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (NYSE:TSM) inaugurated its inaugural chip plant in Japan, marking a significant stride in diversifying supply chains amidst growing U.S.-China trade tensions.
TSMC, the globe’s premier contract chipmaker serving tech giants like Nvidia Corp (NASDAQ:NVDA) and Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL), has seen interest from Europe, the U.S., and other nations for establishing local operations due to geopolitical pressures.
The move comes amid concerns voiced by industry experts, such as Paul You from First Securities Investment Corporation, about the potential dampening effect of the U.S.-China chip war on the global semiconductor industry, CNBC reports.
The new facility, situated in Kumamoto, boasts a 45,000-square-meter cleanroom essential for semiconductor production, with operations slated to begin by the end of 2024.
Japan Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing Inc (JASM), a TSMC-majority-owned entity, commenced the plant’s construction in April 2022, …