Live data from Hacker News

Is America Stealing TSMC?

youtube.com

1–10 of 66 posts

Re: Is America Stealing TSMC?

#3
While indeed it might not be a "technology transfer" in the usual sense, it seems to me that there's not much need for the US to actually use technology transfers. Technology transfer is only partly about being able to make things yourself to save money: it's also about securing the supply chain against "non-violent" foreign interferences: trade wars, sanctions, etc. If the US was worried about that, they might consider it, but no one has the power to do that to them.

Instead, this is more about physical security of the supply chain. They don't need to "officially own" the IP, they just need enough of it safe. They have other ways of making sure that they can have access to the results of that IP on favourable terms.

And, like oil, at that scales, it's not critical to be the sole producer of something, as long as all the other producers denominate their output in your currency. And TSMC already denominates in dollars.

Re: Is America Stealing TSMC?

#5
Seems like a well sourced video. Here are some notes of what's discussed:

- The factories are not joint ventures, they are fully owned by Taiwan.

- Build-outs in US are not going to be the most cutting edge technology.

- TSMC has ~$36bn in capital expenditures in 2022. The Arizona fab is ~$9bn a year. Majority of TSMC investment remains in Taiwan.

- TSMC produces ~15m waifers a year, ~80% produced in Taiwan. Arizona fab will produce ~250k waifers a year from 2024, ~500k from 2026.

- TSMC has at least 5 other build outs in Taiwan.

- The notion that US is going to be self sufficient in terms of chips thanks to the Arizona fab is flawed: 1. By volume, most chips are not what this fab is going to ship. 2. There are other chip foundries with specialty processes in Taiwan. 3. Taiwan leads the rest of the pipeline: assembly, packaging and testing.

Re: Is America Stealing TSMC?

#6
post #4

The tech is mostly from US funded research. Taiwan itself wouldn’t even exist without US military. Give me a break.

lol, what kind of reason is that? Existing thanks to the US' military means what exactly?

Re: Is America Stealing TSMC?

#8
post #6
post #4

The tech is mostly from US funded research. Taiwan itself wouldn’t even exist without US military. Give me a break.

lol, what kind of reason is that? Existing thanks to the US' military means what exactly?

"I put the food on the table in this house and you will respect me, or so help me God I'll give you something to cry about."

Re: Is America Stealing TSMC?

#9

Seems like a well sourced video. Here are some notes of what's discussed: - The factories are not joint ventures, they are fully owned by Taiwan. - Build-outs in US are not going to be the most cutting edge technology. - TSMC has ~$36bn in capital expenditures in 2022. The Arizona fab is ~$9bn a year. Majority of TSMC investment remains in Taiwan. - TSMC produces ~15m waifers a year, ~80% produced in Taiwan. Arizona…

40 billion, not 9.

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-63883047

Re: Is America Stealing TSMC?

#10

Seems like a well sourced video. Here are some notes of what's discussed: - The factories are not joint ventures, they are fully owned by Taiwan. - Build-outs in US are not going to be the most cutting edge technology. - TSMC has ~$36bn in capital expenditures in 2022. The Arizona fab is ~$9bn a year. Majority of TSMC investment remains in Taiwan. - TSMC produces ~15m waifers a year, ~80% produced in Taiwan. Arizona…

40 billion, not 9. https://www.bbc.com/news/business-63883047

Per year, it's about $9 billion; 40 is the total.
Post reply on HN