Taiwan’s GlobalWafers Expands Overseas Amid Tariff Fears: A Strategic Move in the Semiconductor Industry

GlobalWafers from Taiwan is increasing its chip production capabilities abroad due to concerns over potential tariffs. The company, which is the third biggest supplier of silicon wafers globally, is developing more factories in the United States and Europe. CEO Doris Hsu has expressed worries about the imposition of a 'special tariff'.

GlobalWafers is proactively expanding its manufacturing capabilities abroad in preparation for potential tariff increases on chip materials. This highlights the increasing belief that reciprocal trade actions will likely impact the semiconductor supply chain in the near future.

The third biggest supplier of silicon wafers globally is enlarging its manufacturing plants in six out of the nine nations where it has operations. This includes two facilities in the United States, along with one each in Italy and Denmark.

GlobalWafers CEO and Chairwoman, Doris Hsu, expressed to Bloomberg Television that she anticipates special tariffs to be implemented not only in the US but in other nations as well within the industry. She further suggested that these potential tariffs could be bypassed by transitioning to domestic production.

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TSMC, the world's biggest contract chip manufacturer, has officially opened its first facility in Japan.

The perception of semiconductor technology as a matter of national security has been growing among international governments, largely due to chip shortages that occurred during and post the Covid-19 pandemic. These shortages impacted various sectors, notably automobile production. The situation has been further complicated by escalating geopolitical conflicts.