TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company) notified the U.S. Commerce Department after a discovery by TechInsights revealed that a Huawei product contained a chip made by TSMC. The research firm conducted a teardown of a Huawei device, uncovering that the chip used in the product had been manufactured by TSMC, despite Huawei being under U.S. sanctions that limit access to advanced chips.
TSMC stated that it has not supplied chips to Huawei since September 2020, complying with U.S. export controls. However, the discovery of the chip, which may have been produced before the sanctions took effect, prompted TSMC to proactively inform the U.S. authorities. The situation underscores ongoing concerns about China’s access to advanced semiconductor technology, despite international sanctions aimed at curbing such developments.
Huawei, a leading Chinese electronics giant, has been under U.S. sanctions since 2019. These sanctions, part of broader geopolitical efforts to limit China’s technological advances, restrict Huawei’s access to advanced chips and semiconductor manufacturing technology. In particular, U.S. export controls have targeted chips of 14nm or better, cutting Huawei off from vital suppliers like TSMC.
In compliance with these regulations, TSMC ceased supplying chips to Huawei as of mid-September 2020. However, the situation took an unexpected turn when TechInsights performed a teardown of a Huawei device and discovered that a chip produced by TSMC was embedded in the product.
TechInsights, which specializes in semiconductor research, analyzed Huawei’s Ascend 910B chip and found that it contained technology from TSMC. This raised concerns because, under current U.S. sanctions, Huawei should not have had access to chips made using advanced processes by companies like TSMC. This particular chip had been manufactured prior to the sanctions taking effect, which explained its presence in the product.
TSMC promptly informed the U.S. Commerce Department about the discovery, underscoring the company’s commitment to abiding by export controls. TSMC clarified that it had not shipped chips to Huawei since the sanctions were imposed and reiterated its stance as a law-abiding company. This disclosure highlights TSMC’s proactive approach in maintaining transparency with regulatory bodies.
