according to recent reports from korean media, tsmc and samsung are facing serious challenges in their us factories. the trump administration has recently introduced a series of new policies, including a proposal to impose tariffs based on the number of chips used in imported electronic devices. moreover, companies may be required to maintain a 1:1 ratio of domestically produced chips to imported ones, and they risk facing high tariff penalties. these series of measures have put global semiconductor companies in a dilemma, forcing them to continue investing in the us even at a loss.
reuters reported on september 26 that the us department of commerce is formulating a new tariff plan based on the value of chips used in products to promote the return of manufacturing to the us. the wall street journal also reported that the us government is considering imposing a "1:1 production" target on semiconductor companies. secretary of commerce gina raimondo described this plan as an issue of "economic security" and discussed it with industry executives. analysts point out that this target will be difficult to achieve simply by increasing investment, as companies may face significant cost increases due to the influx of low-priced chips from overseas and supply chain adjustments.
tsmc and samsung, which are most affected, are already experiencing operational difficulties in their us factories. according to data from south korea's ytn tv, tsmc's arizona factory has accumulated losses of 170 billion won (about 8.65 billion yuan) over the past four years, the largest loss since its production began in 2024. labor and equipment costs there far exceed those in taiwan. samsung's $24 trillion won (about 122 billion yuan) factory in texas is also facing an uncertain future due to a lack of orders.
industry insiders point out that when the trump administration warned that it would impose a 100% tariff on imported chips, it was believed that companies with factories in the us would be exempted. however, the new policies have once again increased uncertainty. korean media speculate that if the current situation persists, companies may decide that "producing in the us is less cost-effective than paying tariffs," and the global semiconductor strategy will face major adjustments.
