TSMC's CEO and Chairman, C.C. Wei, noted the challenges hindering the advancement of the new U.S. plant compared to Taiwan. Wei highlighted the complex compliance issues, local construction regulations, and various permitting requirements causing delays. He emphasized that obtaining permits and proceeding with construction in the U.S. take significantly longer than in Taiwan.
Despite facing obstacles in Arizona, Wei expressed confidence that the quality of chips produced at the Arizona factory would match those made in Taiwan. He acknowledged the hurdles, such as shortages of skilled labor, supply chain gaps, and regulatory constraints impacting the project's timeline in the U.S.
Wei mentioned the meticulous process involving 18,000 rules costing $35 million and the high chemical supply costs in the U.S. compared to Taiwan. TSMC resorted to shipping sulphuric acid from Taiwan to Los Angeles, then trucking it to Arizona due to cost disparities. Moreover, labor shortages prompted TSMC to relocate construction workers from Texas to Arizona, leading to increased expenses.
The U.S. government's substantial support, including a $6.6 billion grant, aims to diversify chip manufacturing beyond Asia, with Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo mentioning TSMC's production of advanced 4-nanometer chips for U.S. clients in Arizona, aligning with the administration's semiconductor goals.