[Exclusive] TSMC Submits Semiconductor Data to US Government with Three Days Left Before Deadline

On the 5th, Confidential Data Submitted with Basic Materials to the US Department of Commerce
Deadline on the 8th... Samsung and SK Hynix Expected to Face Pressure

President Joe Biden of the United States [Photo by Reuters]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] Taiwan foundry (semiconductor contract manufacturing) company TSMC has confirmed that it submitted data to the U.S. government, which requested semiconductor-related information. It appears that the company submitted only some of the possible content three days before the submission deadline. With TSMC, which had shown resistance to the U.S. government's data submission request, submitting documents first, domestic semiconductor companies such as Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix are expected to face pressure.

According to the U.S. Federal Register and related industries on the 5th (local time), TSMC submitted semiconductor-related survey data requested by the U.S. government to the U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security on that day. Three files were uploaded to the site where the Department of Commerce requested submission; two of the documents were treated as confidential and accessible only to related personnel, while one document was made public.

The public document contained only basic information about TSMC. It indicated the technology processes used in production, semiconductor raw material termination, types of products produced, and marked "Manufacture Only" for whether design or production was involved. It also included sales figures for three years, showing $34.632 billion (about 41 trillion KRW) in 2019, $45.05 billion in 2020, and projected $56.6 billion in sales for this year. Production volume and production share by sector were also included.

TSMC left most of the response fields created by the U.S. government blank and explained on the page for submitting separate confidential materials that "confidential documents explaining TSMC's response methods will be submitted separately."

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

TSMC's document submission was made three days before the deadline on the 8th. Earlier, on September 23, the U.S. Department of Commerce requested semiconductor companies to submit data containing semiconductor inventory, orders, and sales status within 45 days. Since then, TSMC has simultaneously expressed positions such as "not providing customer confidential information to the U.S. government" and "deciding to submit semiconductor supply chain information according to the Department of Commerce's request," and it appears that only information that does not expose some customer information was organized and submitted to the U.S. government.

Most companies receiving the U.S. government's request are expected to make similar choices as TSMC. In fact, as of this day, 23 semiconductor companies and related organizations have submitted data on the site where the U.S. Department of Commerce requested semiconductor-related information. Major companies that submitted data include Taiwan's UMC, U.S. Micron, U.S. Western Digital, and Taiwan semiconductor packaging and testing company ASE, in addition to TSMC. Most of them also submitted key confidential data as non-public and disclosed only basic information.

With the confirmation that major semiconductor companies have consecutively submitted documents, Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix are also expected to face submission pressure. Domestic companies are reportedly preparing to submit data containing some publicly available information by the submission deadline. It is also known that the U.S. government has accepted the industry's concerns.

Earlier, Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Kim Ki-nam said on the 26th of last month regarding the U.S. information submission request, "We are calmly responding after considering various factors," and SK Hynix President Lee Seok-hee also stated on the 28th of last month, "We are reviewing internally and actively communicating with the government."

Meanwhile, Moon Seung-wook, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, is scheduled to visit the U.S. from the 9th to the 11th to meet with the U.S. Secretary of Commerce and Secretary of Energy. Minister Moon is expected to explain the difficulties Korean semiconductor companies face in submitting additional data due to trade secret protection and discuss ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.