Donald Trump unveils US$100 billion investment plan by Taiwan semiconductor giant TSMC

But world’s top manufacturer of advanced semiconductors criticised by US president and commerce secretary for taking ‘advantage’ of America

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US President Donald Trump and TSMC CEO C.C. Wei shake hands in the White House in Washington on Monday. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 6:05am, 4 Mar 2025Updated: 3:58pm, 4 Mar 2025

US President Donald Trump and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick criticised Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company for taking “advantage” of America, as they joined its CEO to announce US$100 billion in stateside investments on Monday.

“Today, Taiwan Semiconductor is announcing that they will be investing at least US$100 billion in new capital in the United States over the next short period of time to build state-of-the-art semiconductor manufacturing facilities,” Trump said.

Hailing the investment as a “tremendous move by the most powerful company in the world”, the US leader said “the most powerful AI chips in the world will be made right here in America and it’ll be a big percentage” of the semiconductors made by TSMC.

Asked if the investment would help to mitigate the impact on US semiconductor supplies if Beijing were to take Taiwan or isolate the island, Trump responded that “it would have a big impact if something should happen with Taiwan”.

“I can’t say it would minimise what would be a catastrophic event, obviously, but it will at least position us so that in this very, very important industry, we would have a significant part of it here in the United States,” he said.

Beijing regards Taiwan as part of its territory, to be reunited by force if necessary. Most countries, including the US, do not recognise the island as an independent state, but Washington is opposed to any unilateral change to the status quo and is committed to supplying the island with weapons.