TSMC Accelerates US Expansion as Samsung Delays Texas Plant

Major semiconductor manufacturers are shifting their global footprints in response to US trade policy and market demand. TSMC is accelerating the production schedule for its Arizona Fab 21 Phase 2 to potentially begin 3nm production by 2027. This acceleration comes as President Donald Trump threatens tariffs of up to 100 percent on imported chips, claiming Taiwan has stolen the chip business from the United States.

Conflicting reports have emerged regarding TSMC's operations in Japan. While some sources suggest the company is postponing a second plant in Kumamoto to prioritize US investments, Chairman C.C. Wei denied these claims. Wei attributed construction delays in Kumamoto to local infrastructure and traffic congestion, though the Japanese government expressed skepticism. TSMC maintains that its global strategy remains based on customer needs and that its US expansion will not impact plans in Japan or Germany.

Simultaneously, Samsung Electronics has indefinitely delayed the completion of its semiconductor plant in Taylor, Texas, pushing operations back to 2026. Despite the facility being over 90 percent complete, Samsung has not installed critical equipment due to a lack of committed foundry customers and poor manufacturing yields for its 2nm process. The project faces further instability as the Trump administration works to dismantle CHIPS and Science Act subsidies that partially funded the investment.