U.S. unlikely to match TSMC's Taiwan production capacity: minister

Taipei, July 2 (CNA) The United States is unlikely to match Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.'s (TSMC) production capacity in Taiwan despite the chipmaker's expansion in Arizona, Minister of Economic Affairs Kung Ming-hsin (龔明鑫) said Thursday.

Speaking before a ministry meeting Thursday afternoon, Kung said TSMC has already announced plans for a total of 16 fabrication plants and advanced CoWoS packaging facilities in Taiwan.

"No matter how many fabs the U.S. builds in the future, it won't be that many," Kung said.

His remarks came after U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly said Wednesday that Taiwan was doubling the size of the chip plants under construction in Arizona and that Taiwanese chipmakers such as TSMC were increasing their investments in the U.S.

"The biggest company in the world, actually, the chipmaker. But they're coming in, they're building in Arizona, and they just announced they're going to double the size," Fox Business quoted Trump as saying.

"We could have 50 percent of the chip market by the time I leave office," he added.

Asked whether TSMC's U.S. expansion could weaken its status as Taiwan's "silicon shield," Kung said the company's announced plans showed Taiwan will remain central to its manufacturing operations.

When asked whether Washington could pressure TSMC to invest more aggressively in the U.S. if the company did not meet Trump's expectations, Kung expressed confidence in TSMC Chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家).

"I believe Chairman Wei is very wise and will be able to handle the matter appropriately," Kung said.

Earlier Thursday, before attending a meeting of the Legislature's Economics Committee, Kung noted that any plans for additional overseas fabs should be confirmed by TSMC itself.

"Whether TSMC has plans for additional fabs should be based on what the company says," he told reporters.