GlobalWafers Expands Overseas amid Rising Tariff Concerns: Taiwan’s Silicon Wafer Giant Bolsters Manufacturing Capacity in US and Europe

GlobalWafers from Taiwan is increasing its chip production capabilities abroad due to fears over potential tariffs. As the third biggest supplier of silicon wafers globally, the company is extending its operations in both the United States and Europe. The CEO, Doris Hsu, has voiced worries regarding a possible 'special tariff'.

GlobalWafers is proactively expanding its manufacturing facilities abroad in preparation for the anticipated increase in chip materials tariffs. This move highlights the increasing belief that reciprocal trade actions will impact the semiconductor supply chain in the future.

The third biggest global supplier of silicon wafers is broadening its production facilities in six out of the nine nations it has operations in. This includes expansion of two facilities in the United States, one in Italy, and another in Denmark.

Doris Hsu, the chairwoman and CEO of GlobalWafers, expressed to Bloomberg Television her belief that certain industries may face unique tariffs not just in the US, but in other nations as well. She suggested that these potential tariffs could be circumvented by transitioning to domestic manufacturing.

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TSMC, the biggest contract semiconductor manufacturer globally, has officially opened its first facility in Japan.

Global authorities are progressively considering semiconductor technology as a matter of national security, since the Covid-19 pandemic led to chip scarcity severely affecting various sectors, notably automobile production. The escalating geopolitical conflicts have also magnified the importance of this issue.