The US Secretary of Commerce has asked semiconductor vendors, including Taiwanese semiconductor giant TSMC, for help uncovering the reasons for a recent global chip shortage. This information includes lists of clients, inventory statements, and plans for future production - types of records usually considered confidential.
On Friday, Economics Minister Wang Mei-hua said that the government is aware of the United States’ requests for this information. She said Taiwan has been assured that any records will be handed over voluntarily, and that the information request does not single out TSMC.
Wang said that the US concerns are about ongoing shortages in microchips used by car manufacturers, despite increased production by Taiwanese vendors. However, she said that Taiwanese companies only produce around 30% of the chips installed in cars, and only around a third of that is tested and packaged in Taiwan.
Wang also said she believes that any information TSMC voluntarily gives to the US will not be used by competitors. That’s because similar questionnaires have been sent to other semiconductor companies.