Taiwanese Chipmaker Suspends Shipments to Customer Linked to Huawei
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the world’s largest chip contract manufacturer, stopped shipments to a customer after discovering that its semiconductors had ended up with China’s Huawei, potentially violating US sanctions. Huawei, a key player in the 5G technology sector, has been at the center of a technology conflict between the US and China.
In response to the sanctions imposed on Huawei, TSMC activated its export control protocols and ceased shipments to the undisclosed customer. The company emphasized its compliance with export regulations and confirmed that it had not supplied Huawei since mid-September 2020.
The incident, reported by Bloomberg, revealed that TSMC-made chips were found in Huawei’s latest AI chip by Canadian research firm TechInsights. Despite Huawei’s denial of recent chip production through TSMC, the situation highlights the complex regulatory challenges faced by technology companies operating in the global market.
With ongoing scrutiny from US and Taiwan authorities, TSMC strives to ensure transparency and adherence to trade restrictions while navigating the intricate landscape of international tech supply chains.