U.S. Commerce Department Investigates TSMC for Potential Export Violations

TSMC Under Investigation for Potential Export Rule Breach

The U.S. Commerce Department has initiated an investigation into Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) regarding potential violations of export regulations. The inquiry centers on whether TSMC produced smartphone or artificial intelligence chips for Huawei, the Chinese tech giant that has faced U.S. sanctions since 2020 due to national security concerns.

According to a report by The Information, the Commerce Department recently reached out to TSMC to clarify its production activities related to Huawei. In response, TSMC stated that it is a "law-abiding company" and adheres to compliance protocols to avoid violations.

In 2020, Huawei was blacklisted, restricting its access to chips manufactured with American technology. Efforts from U.S. lawmakers have intensified to prevent Huawei from acquiring American chipmaking equipment, citing the company's alleged links to the Chinese military.

While Huawei claims to source its advanced chips exclusively from Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC), it has made significant strides in chip development. Last year, the company launched a smartphone equipped with a 7-nanometer chip produced by SMIC, marking a pivotal achievement for Chinese manufacturers.

The U.S. has also imposed strict limitations on Chinese firms' access to advanced AI chips, impacting major players like NVIDIA Corporation, which are prohibited from selling cutting-edge technology to China.