TSMC Can Help Trump Make America Great Again, Says Media Mogul
The Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) could play a pivotal role in advancing President Trump's vision of "Making America Great Again," according to Caixin Media's Xie Jinhe. In a recent Facebook post, quoted by several Taiwanese news outlets, Xie discussed the ongoing US-China trade tensions and emphasized TSMC’s strategic importance in this new economic landscape.
Xie's commentary highlighted how TSMC’s leadership in global semiconductor manufacturing positions it as a critical partner for the United States. Following the announcement of an additional $100 billion investment in US-based production facilities, made jointly by President Trump and TSMC CEO Dr. C.C. Wei last month, the media mogul praised the company's growing significance. Trump himself publicly lauded TSMC, calling it "the biggest chip manufacturer in the world" and asserting that Taiwan effectively holds a "monopoly" on global semiconductor production through TSMC, which he described as "the most powerful company in the world."
Notably, Trump revealed that he had previously threatened TSMC with a 100% tax if it did not commit to manufacturing in the US, a move that ultimately resulted in the Arizona facility's establishment. Despite these advancements, TSMC’s most cutting-edge 3-nanometer chips are still manufactured exclusively in Taiwan, underlining the challenges of reshoring advanced semiconductor production.
In his post, Xie Jinhe analyzed the broader economic context, observing that the President’s tariff strategies could strengthen the US bond market while also giving Trump an opportunity to reassess trade relations, particularly to limit China's influence. He stressed that Taiwan, and especially TSMC, could be instrumental in supporting America's manufacturing resurgence, particularly as TSMC expands its footprint on US soil despite the logistical and cost challenges associated with duplicating Taiwan’s intricate semiconductor supply chain abroad.
Xie argued that TSMC "is an important helper in making America great again" and that "Taiwanese companies’ activities in the supply chain are even more helpful in helping manufacturing return to the United States" [machine translated from Mandarin]. He pointed out that the semiconductor industry relies on a vast and complex network of suppliers—from raw silicon wafer producers to chemical firms ensuring the purity of manufacturing processes—making Taiwan’s broader technological ecosystem a vital asset to the US's reshoring ambitions.
Xie has previously cautioned that escalating trade disputes between the US and China could herald the end of globalization, splitting the world into competing technological blocs. In this context, Taiwan and TSMC's alignment with US interests could have far-reaching implications for the global semiconductor industry and geopolitical alliances.
Do you think Taiwan’s semiconductor leadership will reshape global trade dynamics in favor of the US? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
