TSMC to hold first U.S. board meeting

Taipei, Feb. 12 (CNA) Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) is set to hold its first-ever board meeting in the United States on Wednesday (Taipei time) as markets closely watch whether the company will expand its American investments.

Although the meeting is considered routine, it has drawn increased attention following U.S. President Donald Trump's plans of a 100 percent tariff on semiconductor products made in Taiwan, sparking speculation that TSMC is the primary target.

Industry insiders believe TSMC will likely engage in discussions with the U.S. government to mitigate the impact of potential tariffs.

The company may also accelerate the mass production timeline of its advanced manufacturing processes in the U.S. and consider building a fourth fab in Arizona to meet the growing demand for artificial intelligence (AI) chips, they said.

Although TSMC may not finalize its U.S. investment expansion plan at the board meeting, a decision could come soon as discussions with the U.S. government continue, the insiders added.

During the meeting, the board is also expected to finalize its financial report for the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2024 and approve the cash dividend distribution.

TSMC has already announced a cash dividend of NT$4.5 (US$0.14) per share for Q3 2024, while the Q4 dividend is expected to be at least NT$4.5 per share, with the possibility of a further increase, sources said.