DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Taiwan Says Trade Not Being Much Affected by Red Sea Disruptions
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwanese companies are not being affected much by disruptions to the key shipping lane of the Red Sea as it has coincided with the traditional low season in demand for exporters, Economy Minister Wang Mei-hua said on Monday. Some shipping companies have suspended transit along the Red Sea route to avoid being attacked by Yemen's Iranian-backed Houthi group, which has launched waves of exploding drones and missiles at vessels since November in response to Israel's military operations in Gaza. The Houthi attacks have primarily targeted container vessels moving through the Red Sea. Taiwanese container shipping line Evergreen Marine said in December that ships scheduled to pass through the Red Sea would be rerouted around Africa's Cape of Good Hope. Speaking to reporters in Taipei, Wang said her ministry had spoken with 14 industry groups as well as companies to gauge the impact of the Red Sea disruptions.

Persons: Wang Mei, Good Hope, Wang, Ben Blanchard, Sonali Paul Organizations: Evergreen Locations: TAIPEI, Gaza, Africa's, Good, Taipei, Israel, Europe, Ukraine, Taiwan

☆ US officials to visit Taiwan to explain chip curbs, minister says
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Taiwan Economy Minister Wang Mei-hua speaks during an interview with Reuters in Taipei, Taiwan, September 30, 2021. REUTERS/Ann Wang/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTAIPEI, Dec 4 (Reuters) - U.S. officials plan to visit Taiwan to explain to companies details of new curbs, primarily aimed at China, on advanced chip exports, the island's economy minister said on Monday. Taiwan Economy Minister Wang Mei-hua said some details of the extremely long new U.S. rules needed explanation. Given the concentration of chip making in Taiwan it was "advantageous" for Taiwanese companies to hear the details of the new controls from the U.S. officials, Wang said. Taiwan's official Central News Agency said the U.S. officials, who it did not name, would visit Taiwan next month and hold events in the chip hubs of Hsinchu and Tainan.

Persons: Wang Mei, Ann Wang, Biden, chipmaker TSMC, Wang, Ben Blanchard, Jeanny, Bernadette Baum, Barbara Lewis Organizations: Reuters, REUTERS, Rights, Nvidia, Beijing, U.S, Central News Agency, The U.S . Commerce Department, Thomson Locations: Taiwan, Taipei, Rights TAIPEI, China, U.S, Hsinchu, Tainan, The

Last year, Taiwan's chip industry generated T$4.837 trillion ($150.27 billion) in revenue, nearly half of which came from TSMC, compared with Taiwan's GDP of T$22.667 trillion ($704.21 billion). "Taiwan's limited land and limited energy have always created a lot of pressure," GlobalWafers (6488.TWO) CEO Doris Hsu told reporters. 'FIVE SHORTAGES'The chip industry has long complained about Taiwan's "five shortages": land, water, energy, labour, and talent. Taiwan's government - determined to keep its crown jewel's most advanced technology at home - has said it will provide alternative options. The Longtan expansion had proposed acquiring 159 more hectares in the north, where TSMC and many chip companies are based.

Persons: Wei Hsin, Carlos Garcia Rawlins, Taiwan's, Wang Mei, TSMC, Doris Hsu, Hsu Shih, Rich, Chen Ting, Chen, Liao Chen, Cliff Hou, Isaiah, Lucy Chen, Chen Chi, Sarah Wu, Yimou Lee, Ben Blanchard, Gerry Doyle Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, Taiwan's, National Chengchi University, Hsinchu Science Park, Reuters, Residents, TMSC's, Thomson Locations: Longtan, Taoyuan, Taiwan, Rights HSINCHU, LONGTAN, Hsinchu, United States, Japan, Germany, TSMC, Belgium, Arizona, Kaohsiung

[1/2] Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company's (TSMC) logo is seen while people attend the opening of the TSMC global R&D center in Hsinchu, Taiwan July 28, 2023. The company said it would work with the government-run Science Park Administration "to evaluate land in Taiwan suitable for building semiconductor fabs". The world's largest contract chipmaker was intending to build a 1-nanometre chip factory in Longtan, according to a Central News Agency report in December that quoted a Science Park Administration official. Taiwan Economy Minister Wang Mei-hua said the government would help TSMC with its land, water and power needs given that semiconductors are one of island's most important industries. Chen Chi-mai, mayor of Kaohsiung in the south where TSMC is currently building a 2-nanometre chip factory, said his city has enough water, power, and land for more semiconductor factories.

Persons: Ann Wang, chipmaker, Wang Mei, Chen Chi, Sarah Wu, Ben Blanchard, Yimou Lee, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, REUTERS, Rights, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, Central News Agency, Administration, Taiwan, Thomson Locations: Hsinchu, Taiwan, Rights TAIPEI, Longtan, Kaohsiung, TSMC

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTAIPEI, Oct 13 (Reuters) - Taiwan's TSMC (2330.TW) said on Friday it expects to receive permission from the United States to supply its China plant with U.S. chipmaking tools indefinitely, in an easing of Washington's restrictions on foreign chipmakers operating in China. "We expect to receive a permanent authorization through the VEU process," TSMC said, noting that it did not previously need to apply for VEU status. Taiwan Economy Minister Wang Mei-hua said earlier on Friday that TSMC has received the waiver from the United States to supply U.S. equipment to the company's factory in China. However, the United States is continuing efforts to cut China off from top AI technology and plug gaps in export controls. The United States last year shook relations with Beijing when it unveiled new restrictions on shipments of AI chips and chipmaking tools to China, seeking to thwart its military advances.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, TSMC, Wang Mei, Biden, chipmaker, Sarah Wu, Ben Blanchard, Sonali Paul, Muralikumar Anantharaman, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, REUTERS, Rights, The U.S . Department of Commerce's, of Industry and Security, Reuters, Taiwan, Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, Apple Inc, United, TSMC's, Thomson Locations: Rights TAIPEI, United States, China, The, KS, Nanjing, Beijing, TSMC's Taipei

☆ Taiwan says awaiting US announcement on China chip waiver extension
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Ben Blanchard | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

South Korea's government said this week that Samsung Electronics (005930.KS) and SK Hynix (000660.KS) will be allowed to supply U.S. chip equipment to their China factories indefinitely without separate U.S. approvals. "Whether it will be the same treatment as Samsung and SK Hynix, it's up to the announcement from the U.S. government," Wang told reporters in Taipei. Samsung and SK Hynix, the world's largest and second-largest memory chipmakers, had invested billions of dollars in their chip production facilities in China and welcomed the move. Samsung Electronics makes about 40% of its NAND flash chips at its plant in Xian, China, while SK Hynix makes about 40% of its DRAM chips in Wuxi and 20% of its NAND flash chips in Dalian. The companies together controlled nearly 70% of the global DRAM market and 50% of the NAND flash market as of end-June, data from TrendForce showed.

Persons: Florence Lo, Wang Mei, Biden, Wang, chipmaker, TSMC, Ben Blanchard, Gerry Doyle Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, U.S, Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, Samsung, U.S ., United, Korean, Thomson Locations: Rights TAIPEI, Taiwan, China, KS, Taipei, TSMC, United States, Nanjing, Xian, Wuxi, Dalian, TrendForce

☆ Taiwan probes four firms accused of helping China's Huawei
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Taiwan Economy Minister Wang Mei-hua said the ministry would be looking into whether the firms' activities in China "matched up" with their initial investment approval from the island's government. A Bloomberg news report this week said the firms had been working with Huawei-connected firms to build infrastructure for chip plants. The companies - Topco Scientific (5434.TW), L&K Engineering (6139.TW), United Integrated Services (2404.TW) and Cica-Huntek Chemical Technology Taiwan (6725.TWO) - have all denied any wrongdoing. Wang also said Taiwan's government will soon unveil tighter rules on "key technologies", taking into account international practice, she added, without giving details. China claims Taiwan as its own territory and has in recent years increased its military activities around the island.

Persons: Peter Nicholls, Wang Mei, Wang, chipmaker TSMC, Ben Blanchard, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: Huawei, REUTERS, Rights, Bloomberg, K Engineering, United Integrated Services, Chemical Technology, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Rights TAIPEI, China, Taiwan, Chemical Technology Taiwan, U.S

☆ Taiwan president arrives in Eswatini to visit last African ally
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TAIPEI/MBABANE, Sept 5 (Reuters) - Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen arrived on Tuesday in Eswatini, Taipei's last African ally, saying the island will continue to confidently engage with the world and show it is a force for good. The Taiwanese delegation signed three memoranda of understanding with the southern African country after it met with Eswatini's King Mswati III. Eswatini is almost entirely surrounded by South Africa, which Chinese President Xi Jinping visited last month. Tsai last visited Eswatini in 2018, and this time is being accompanied by Economy Minister Wang Mei-hua. Taiwan has provided large amounts of aid to the small southern African country ruled by an absolute monarchy, including in 2021 antiviral medication to help King Mswati III recover from COVID.

Persons: Tsai Ing, Taipei's, Eswatini's King Mswati III, Tsai, Eswatini, Xi Jinping, Economy Minister Wang Mei, King Mswati III, Ben Blanchard, Anait Miridzhanian, Michael Perry, Josie Kao, William Maclean Organizations: Eswatini's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Economy Minister, COVID, Thomson Locations: TAIPEI, MBABANE, Taiwan, Eswatini, China, Latin America, Caribbean, Belize, Nauru, Honduras, Swaziland, South Africa, America, United States, Lunga

☆ Taiwan pitches deeper Europe engagement after TSMC Germany investment
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Ben Blanchard | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

TAIPEI, Aug 9 (Reuters) - Taiwan chipmaker TSMC's (2330.TW) 3.5 billion euros ($3.83 billion) investment in Germany will drive deeper engagement between the island and Europe, Taiwan's economy minister said on Wednesday, pitching the political benefits of the deal. "TSMC's investment in Europe will help bring even closer cooperation between Taiwan and the EU," Taiwan Economy Minister Wang Mei-hua told reporters in Taipei, when asked if signing the BIA would get more Taiwanese chipmakers to the bloc. Taiwan has repeatedly called for progress on a BIA with the European Union. The EU included Taiwan on its list of trade partners for a potential bilateral investment agreement in 2015, but it has not held talks with Taiwan on the issue since. The TSMC investment in Germany will need approval by Taiwan's economy ministry, and Wang said they will also consider the company's "vigorous" investments at home when weighing the German plans.

Persons: Wang Mei, Wang, TSMC, Ben Blanchard, Jeanny Kao, Stephen Coates Organizations: European Union, BIA, Washington, EU, Trade Organisation, Reuters, Thomson Locations: TAIPEI, Taiwan, Germany, Europe, Beijing, Taipei, United States, Japan

☆ Paraguay 'would love' more China trade, Taiwan still better for development
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-15 | by ( Ben Blanchard | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TAIPEI, July 15 (Reuters) - Paraguay "would love" to do more trade with China, but Taiwan offers the best bet for moving the largely agricultural economy up the value chain, the country's president-elect Santiago Pena said on Saturday on a visit to Taipei. Paraguay is the last South American country with formal relations with Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory. Honduras ended decades of ties in favour of Beijing this year, and only 13 countries now recognise Taiwan. "We have no constraints on doing trade with China. We would love to do more trade with the PRC," he said, referring to the People's Republic of China.

Persons: Santiago Pena, Pena, Tsai Ing, Wang Mei, Tsai, William Lai, Lai, Ben Blanchard, William Mallard Organizations: Thomson Locations: TAIPEI, Paraguay, China, Taiwan, Taipei, American, Honduras, Beijing, People's Republic of China, Brazil, United States

☆ Paraguay president-elect to visit 'great friend' Taiwan's Tsai
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] President-Elect Santiago Pena, a 44-year-old economist who won 43% of the vote on Sunday in the Presidential election, speaks during a news conference in Asuncion, Paraguay May 2, 2023. REUTERS/Cesar Olmedo/File PhotoTAIPEI, July 9 (Reuters) - Paraguay's president-elect, Santiago Pena, will visit Taiwan this week and meet "great friend" President Tsai Ing-wen, he said on Sunday, shoring up a relationship at a time China is working to entice the island's dwindling allies. Pena said on his Twitter account he would visit Abu Dhabi, then go to Taiwan to meet Tsai, who he described as a "great friend". He will be in Taiwan for the 66th anniversary of diplomatic ties on Wednesday, the ministry said. Diplomatic sources have told Reuters that Lai might attend as Taiwan's representative, likely transiting the United States to meet U.S. officials.

Persons: Santiago Pena, Cesar Olmedo, Tsai Ing, shoring, Pena, Tsai, William Lai, Wang Mei, Lai, Ben Blanchard, William Mallard Organizations: REUTERS, Democratic Progressive, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Asuncion , Paraguay, TAIPEI, Taiwan, China, Paraguay, American, Honduras, Beijing, Central America, Caribbean, U.S, America, Washington, Abu Dhabi, United States

TAIPEI, April 12 (Reuters) - Taiwan's TSMC (2330.TW) has not changed the investment plan for its new chip factory in the island's southern city of Kaohsiung, Economy Minister Wang Mei-hua said on Wednesday, responding to a media report of the chipmaker slowing down expansion at home. "TSMC making Taiwan its global R&D hub and manufacturing hub has not changed," Wang told reporters on the sidelines of parliament. "TSMC investing in Taiwan, investing in Kaohsiung, also has not changed." Wang's comments come after Taiwan's DigiTimes publication reported, citing sources, that TSMC is slowing down its expansion plans in Kaohsiung and other Taiwanese cities. In 2021, TSMC said the Kaohsiung expansion would also include advanced 7-nanometer chips, but the company later postponed plans to build the advanced chips there.

☆ TSMC talking to US about CHIPS Act 'guidance' amid subsidy concerns
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TAIPEI, April 10 (Reuters) - Taiwanese chipmaker TSMC (2330.TW) said on Monday it is communicating with Washington about its "guidance" for a law designed to boost U.S. semiconductor manufacturing that has sparked concerns about subsidy criteria. "We can confirm that we are communicating with the U.S. government about the CHIPS ACT guidance," TSMC, the world's leading contract chipmaker, said in a short emailed statement. Taiwan Economy Minister Wang Mei-hua told reporters on Monday that TSMC was specifically talking to the United States about the details of the subsidies. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd (TSMC) is investing $40 billion in a new plant in the western U.S. state of Arizona, supporting Washington's plans for more chip-making at home. The subsidies would come from a $52 billion pool of research and manufacturing funds earmarked under the CHIPS Act.

☆ Taiwan says US officials have visited to discuss concerns about chip subsidies
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Taiwan Economy Minister Wang Mei-Hua and the Speaker of the Czech Republic parliament Marketa Pekarova Adamova attend a Taiwan-Czech Joint Business Council Meeting in Taipei, Taiwan, March 27, 2023. REUTERS/I-Hwa ChengTAIPEI, March 31 (Reuters) - The United States has sent officials to Taiwan to listen to concerns in the chip industry about the criteria for new U.S. semiconductor subsidies, Taiwan Economy Minister Wang Mei-hua said on Friday. The criteria are worrying companies like Samsung Electronics Co Ltd (005930.KS) and SK Hynix Inc (000660.KS), South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said on Thursday, a concern shared by the world's leading contract chipmaker in Taiwan, TSMC (2330.TW). "The U.S. side has sent relevant officials to Taiwan to listen to the industry's opinions, to collect their views," she added, without giving details. "Following on, if the industry needs the government to help communicate with the United States, the Economy Ministry will certainly assist with communication," Wang said.

☆ Taiwan welcomes large Czech delegation after Honduras shifts allegiance to China
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The roughly 150-person Czech delegation arrived in Taipei on Saturday, led by the speaker of the lower chamber of the Czech parliament, Marketa Pekarova Adamova. "This visit of the delegation to Taiwan certainly represents that Taiwan is in a democratic alliance," she said. Pekarova Adamova, who is due to meet Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen later on Monday, told the business forum that Taiwan was a crucial investment partner for her country. "Taiwan is not only an important economic partner but also a friendly and democratic partner and deserves our attention and support." Newly elected Czech president Petr Pavel drew a sharp rebuke from Beijing in January after taking a call from Tsai, a clear shift from his predecessor's attempts to win Chinese business.

TSMC's Arizona factory has sparked concerns in Taiwan, where semiconductor manufacturing is the backbone of the economy, about a "goodbye to Taiwan" trend among chip firms. "TSMC's research and development centre is in Taiwan, the complete supply chain is here," she said. "Taiwan has a complete supply chain, a complete system, and the backing of the government. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd (2330.TW), , as it is formally called, has repeatedly said that the bulk of its manufacturing will remain in Taiwan. It is also encouraging more foreign tech firms in the chip supply chain to invest in Taiwan.

[1/2] Semiconductor chips are seen on a circuit board of a computer in this illustration picture taken February 25, 2022. REUTERS/Florence Lo/IllustrationTAIPEI, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen has decried what she called "rumours" about the risk of investing in the island's semiconductor industry and said the government was working hard to ensure investments continued. But the Chinese military's menacing of the island to assert Beijing's sovereignty claims, especially after U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taipei in August, is causing the chip industry to rethink the risk surrounding Taiwan. Tsai, who met with ASML Holding's (ASML.AS) chief operations officer Frederic Schneider-Maunoury on Tuesday, praised the European manufacturer of chip-making equipment for its commitment to investing in Taiwan. Reporting by Ben Blanchard and Sarah Wu; Editing by Christian Schmollinger and Edwina GibbsOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ British minister to visit Taiwan for trade talks, meet president
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TAIPEI, Nov 7 (Reuters) - A British minister will visit Taiwan this week for trade talks and meet President Tsai Ing-wen, his office said on Monday, the latest high-level engagement between a Western government and the island which China claims as its own territory. Britain's Department for International Trade said Greg Hands, minister of state for trade and also a member of parliament, would meet Tsai and co-host the 25th annual UK-Taiwan Trade Talks during his two-day visit. "Visiting Taiwan in person is a clear signal of the UK's commitment to boosting UK-Taiwan trade ties. Hands will also meet Taiwan's top trade negotiator John Deng and Economy Minister Wang Mei-hua, it added. China staged war games near Taiwan in August following a visit to Taipei by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

☆ Taiwan touts $900 mln in new business from Silicon Valley meetings
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Taiwan Economy Minister Wang Mei-hua speaks during an interview with Reuters in Taipei, Taiwan, September 30, 2021. REUTERS/Ann WangTAIPEI, Oct 15 (Reuters) - Taiwan's economy minister has drummed up new business worth T$30 billion ($940 million) in meetings with top executives at four major tech firms in California's Silicon Valley, the ministry said on Saturday. Taiwan is a major semiconductor producer, home to the world's largest contract chip maker, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp (2330.TW), , and supplies most the world's major tech firms. "The visits are expected to bring back U.S. research and development investment and orders in Taiwan worth more than T$30 billion," it said, without elaborating. Wang said on Tuesday that if Taiwan remains safe, global supply chains of vital semiconductors would also be secure.

☆ Taiwan signals its chip firms will follow new U.S. rules on China
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Taiwan, a major chip producer, is home to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) (2330.TW), the world's largest contract chipmaker and a major supplier to companies including Apple Inc (AAPL.O). "In addition to complying with domestic laws and regulations, it will also cooperate with the needs of international customers who place orders and the norms of customers in their countries." Taiwan has its own concerns about China, especially efforts by Chinese companies to poach chip talent and technical know-how. The government tightly restricts Taiwanese chip investment in China, the island's largest trading partner. She will visit U.S. tech firms that are major customers of Taiwanese semiconductor companies.

Search resuls for: "Economy Minister Wang Mei"

20 mentions found