Seoul, Jan 1 — The United States has granted Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) an annual export licence permitting the chipmaker to bring U.S.-origin semiconductor manufacturing equipment into its operations in mainland China, the company confirmed on Thursday.
TSMC said the approval allows U.S. export-controlled tools to be supplied to its Nanjing fabrication plant without requiring separate licences for each shipment, a move the company said would help maintain stable operations and delivery schedules.
Shift From Exemptions to Licences
The licence replaces a previous exemption arrangement under Washington’s China chip export controls. That special status, known as validated end-user designation, expired at the end of December, requiring affected companies to apply for formal export approvals for 2026 onward.
South Korea’s Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix have also received similar licences, according to industry disclosures.
The U.S. restrictions are part of broader efforts to limit China’s access to advanced semiconductor technology while allowing continued production of mature-node chips used in consumer electronics and industrial applications.
Nanjing Plant Focuses on Mature Chips
TSMC’s Nanjing facility produces 16-nanometre and other mature-node semiconductors, rather than the company’s most advanced chips. The Taiwanese firm also operates another fabrication site in Shanghai.
In its latest annual report, TSMC said the Nanjing plant accounted for roughly 2.4% of total company revenue, underscoring its relatively modest but strategically important role in the company’s global manufacturing footprint.
