Analysis: Under tariff threats, Taiwan chipmakers hedge beyond US

U.S. semiconductor tariff threats are compelling Taiwan, China chipmakers to accelerate global expansion, fundamentally reshaping upstream supply chain dynamics and forcing midstream foundries to reassess their technical strategies. In response to policy uncertainty, companies are deepening partnerships with European, Japanese, and ASEAN nations to diversify risk. This shift will lead to a structural realignment of global semiconductor capacity, especially in advanced process nodes, as Taiwan, China firms reduce reliance on single markets. Rising compliance costs prompt accelerated domestic R&D and manufacturing capabilities to mitigate potential export controls. Competitors like South Korea’s Samsung and Germany’s Infineon may follow suit with overseas expansion, intensifying global capacity competition. Over the next 12 to 24 months, the global semiconductor supply chain will become increasingly fragmented and regionally diversified, with technological self-reliance becoming a core survival strategy.