Nov 09, 2024 13:30:00

TSMC notifies all Chinese customers to stop supplying AI chips below 7nm process

Taiwanese semiconductor manufacturer TSMC has notified all of its AI chip customers in mainland China that it will no longer supply advanced chips with a process rule of 7nm or less after November 11, 2024.

More details on Taiwanese power supply: Partial Wafer power supply, future demand request available.

https://jiweipreview.laoyaoba.com/n/922301

TSMC halts advanced chip shipments to Chinese AI companies • The Register

https://www.theregister.com/2024/11/08/tsmc_chinese_ai_shipments/

TSMC halts advanced chip orders from mainland China after US curb exports evasion: source | South China Morning Post
https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-war/article/3285805/tsmc-halts-advanced-chip-orders-mainland-china-after-us-export-curbs-evasion-source

This was reported by Chinese IT news site Jiwei, citing information from multiple sources.

The United States has imposed restrictions on the export of advanced semiconductor manufacturing technology and products to China, and these restrictions apply not only to its own companies but also to 'exports by foreign companies of products made using American technology.'

However, in October 2024, an analysis by Techinsight, which conducts research on semiconductors, found that AI chips made by Chinese company Huawei contain semiconductors manufactured by TSMC.

It turns out that TSMC was manufacturing Huawei's AI chips, which may violate US export controls - GIGAZINE

TSMC responded by saying that it has not supplied products to Huawei since September 2020, when export restrictions were imposed, and Huawei responded by saying that it has not requested manufacturing from TSMC since the restrictions were imposed. It was later discovered that this was done through the mediation of Chinese chipmaker SOPHGO, and TSMC immediately stopped supplying products to SOPHGO. This incident has been called the 'White Glove Incident.'

Immediately after it was reported that TSMC's semiconductors were used in Huawei's AI chips, TSMC stopped shipments to the Chinese company SOPHGO, and it is possible that SOPHGO was acting as an intermediary to make semiconductors - GIGAZINE

Donald Trump, who is all but certain to win the 2024 presidential election, is known to be taking a tough stance against Taiwan, saying, 'Taiwan stole our semiconductor industry from us.' For this reason, TSMC, in consultation with the Ministry of Commerce, is believed to have decided to formulate a strict inspection system and completely block the supply of advanced process rule products to mainland China.

Wen Jiwei writes that TSMC's decision will have a significant impact on the performance and market competitiveness of mainland Chinese AI and GPU companies.