TSMC says could fill order gap if unable to sell chips to Huawei

HSINCHU: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd (TSMC) could quickly fill any order gap should U.S. restrictions against Huawei Technologies Co Ltd prevent sales to the Chinese firm, the company’s chairman said on Tuesday.

TSMC’s clients include Huawei’s chip division HiSilicon. However, the U.S. blacklisting of Huawei over security concerns and trade disputes with China has left the world’s biggest contract chipmaker exposed to diplomatic developments between two countries where it also has production bases.

The company last month unveiled plans for a $12 billion plant in the United States just hours before the U.S. Commerce Department outlined a proposal to amend chip export rules – a move that would restrict TSMC’s sales to Huawei.