It’s not clear yet what Taiwan would get out of the deal.
Taiwan is one of the most important countries in the world when it comes to technology. With the likes of TSMC (the world’s largest semiconductor fabrication company) being based there, it’s right at the centre of the global chip trade. With America also looking to regain a slice of that technological pie, that has led to some chatter about potential deals between the two countries.
As reported by Reuters, US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick told News Nation (a US-based television network) that it would be proposing a 50/50 split with Taiwan for future chip production. In this, the US government wants Taiwan to move 50% of the chips it produces for US use to be made in the US. TSMC has fabs in America, newly-built ones with plans for more, but they don’t make up anywhere near as much of global production as its facilities in Taiwan. This proposed deal would try to push for commitment to a huge increase in production on US soil.
Cheng Li-chiun, a Taiwanese politician and vice premier, told reporters, «Our negotiating team has never made any commitment to a 50/50 split on chips. Rest assured, we did not discuss this issue during this round of talks, nor would we agree to such conditions.»
No word has currently been spoken on what exactly would be offered in return for this split. Last week, it was reported that the US government is looking to impose tariffs on US firms that do not source an equal amount of American chips.
