TAIPEI (TVBS News) — U.S. President Donald Trump delivered a stark ultimatum to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC, 台積電), the world's leading chipmaker, on Wednesday (April 9) Taiwan time. Speaking in Washington, Trump reiterated his demand that the Taiwanese technology giant must establish manufacturing facilities on American soil or confront a punishing 100% tariff on its products entering the United States market.
Trump issued this declaration during a Republican National Congressional Committee event, where he emphasized his dedication to strengthening America's domestic manufacturing base. "TSMC, I gave them no money... all I did was say, if you don't build your plant here, you're going to pay a big tax," Trump stated, framing his approach as leveraging tariff threats rather than financial incentives to influence corporate decision-making.
Reuters reported that Trump sharply criticized the Biden administration's decision to provide US$6.6 billion (approximately NT$217.8 billion) in subsidies to TSMC for semiconductor production facilities in Phoenix, Arizona. The former president contended that semiconductor companies possess sufficient resources to expand without requiring taxpayer-funded financial support, presenting his tariff-based approach as more fiscally responsible.
Trump also unveiled plans to extend his tariff strategy to the pharmaceutical industry, declaring his intention to impose import duties on foreign-made medications. "Once we do that, they're going to come rushing back into our country, because we're the big market," he stated confidently. The former president predicted this policy would prompt pharmaceutical manufacturers to abandon their operations in China and other overseas locations in favor of domestic production facilities.
In March, TSMC Chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) met with Trump at the White House, where the semiconductor executive announced an additional US$100 billion (approximately NT$3.3 trillion) investment in U.S. facilities, supplementing an existing US$65 billion (approximately NT$2.14 trillion) commitment. Trump subsequently lauded his tariff-based approach, asserting that his policies had successfully persuaded TSMC to increase its total U.S. investment to US$200 billion. The former president described Wei in glowing terms as "one of the most respected people in business, not just in the semiconductor industry."
