Like others echoed, Taiwan should know that were TSMC to just stand still and not blink, the US would have concede 100%, without question.

This was, out of every single tariff measure he's passed in the current trade war, the most shaky and audacious, which is saying a lot. They (Taiwan, TSMC, and hell even ASML) should know that without their direct cooperation, this tariff turns from re-industrialization poster child to a kamikaze, your pistol to your temple misstep that would prove absolutely devastating.

It's not JUST because they would essentially putting themselves behind a node or two, competing directly with China, the REAL issue here is something so much more evasive than capital: people and culture. The US stagnates with a 70K engineer gap, and what do we hear from the dismal reports coming out of AZ and TX? That's right, the domestic workforce, even the construction team building the damn fabs, DO NOT jive with the culture TSMC or Samsung expect to hit goals. Here, capital≠competency. The real moat is two—three generations of tacit knowledge built on a culture that believes building semiconductors is your country's divine purpose on Earth. We've tried bridging the work–culture gap with Japan since the 80s, and our inability to do so has literally surpassed the life-death cycle of neoliberal hyperglobalization.

If this is true, and Taiwan did recently verify they were exempt from the semis levy, then backbone really is in short supply.

,,It may be dangerous to be America's enemy, but to be America's friend is fatal."

Serve Taiwan right for sleeping with US thinking that would protect it from China. China just sat tight & quietly perfect their high  end chip production while waiting for Taiwan's relationship with US to sour on it own. Well it doesn't take long to happen & when it's over, Taiwan would be dead broke while China will be producing high end chips competing heavily with TSMC. 

Quote from: RofLaw! on August 06, 2025, 01:13:22It's a direct violation of Antitrust law for TSMC to own that much of a direct competitor! Does Trump even have the Qualified People remaining at the US Justice Department Antitrust Division who can advise him properly!

To be fair here, "a direct competitor" is a very loose definition. They literally have no competitor as everyone produces everything there. Well Samsung is trying something with their foundry but yeah, other than that anyone relevant in the chipmaking business is in/at TSMC.

It's a direct violation of Antitrust law for TSMC to own that much of a direct competitor! Does Trump even have the Qualified People remaining at the US Justice Department Antitrust Division who can advise him properly!

Now that is a different approach to corporate bailouts, bully another to do it for you.

This guy's dumb. There's no alternative to TSMC, it only hurts people.