TSMC Has Not Yet Submitted Request for $100 Billion Investment in the USA, Confirm Taiwanese Officials

Last March, the Taiwanese company TSMC, together with former President Donald Trump, announced a new $100 billion investment plan in the United States to build advanced chip factories. However, Taiwan’s Ministry of Economy confirmed that TSMC has not yet submitted any official request for approval, which is required by local law.

Su Chi-yen, the deputy director of the Ministry’s investment review department, confirmed that TSMC has not yet presented any proposal to the government of Taiwan. Taiwanese law requires that any foreign investment over NT$1.5 billion (around $46 million) undergoes formal review before approval.

The Embarrassment for the Taiwanese Government

These statements have caused embarrassment within the government, especially after the Ministry of Economy’s J.W. Kuo was criticized for not being aware of the details of the agreement announced publicly by TSMC and Trump. During a parliamentary hearing, Kuo confirmed that his administration has not yet received any official documents about the $100 billion investment. He added that the government expects TSMC to provide all the necessary details within a reasonable time.

The announced investment includes three new production plants, two packaging facilities, and a research and development center. This would be a significant expansion compared to TSMC’s current commitments in the United States, where the company has already invested $65 billion to build a mega plant in Arizona dedicated to 2-nanometer chip production. These factories are seen as key to supporting U.S. companies like NVIDIA, which plans to use the chips for its AI GPUs.

Geopolitical Strategies and Global Impact

The investment announcement was welcomed by the White House, which presented it as a strategic step to bring semiconductor production back to the United States. However, the delay in official communication with Taiwan could indicate a lack of coordination between TSMC’s international operations and the Taiwanese government, with potential political implications at a time of high tension between the U.S., China, and Taiwan.

Meanwhile, the Taiwanese government has announced a plan to increase energy imports from the United States, particularly from regions like Alaska, as a strategic response to the new protectionist policies under the Trump administration.

While TSMC strongly denies rumors of a possible merger or joint venture with Intel, many questions remain about the real development of the $100 billion investment. Without official documents, the Taiwanese government has not yet been able to assess the impact of the operation on the national economy, supply chains, and the region’s geopolitical balance.