Now that Taiwanese regulations allow TSMC to export its latest process technologies to its fabs overseas, the question is whether TSMC can do this and wants to do this considering the fact that all of its production nodes are developed in Taiwan. C.C. Wei, chief executive and chairman of TSMC, says that not only ramping up production of TSMC's leading-edge manufacturing process in the U.S. would be complicated because fabs in Arizona are far from R&D in Taiwan, but also because of bureaucracy in the U.S., according to Reuters.
TSMC’s CEO explained that new technology nodes are initially ramped up in Taiwan because leading-edge manufacturing processes are highly complex and require close proximity to R&D teams that can make certain adjustments to meet certain goals. While TSMC would be glad to implement the same technology in Taiwan and the U.S., logistical challenges make it impractical for the U.S. facilities to lead this process. Therefore, Taiwan will always take precedence for new technology introductions.
