TAIPEI: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, the world’s largest contract chipmaker, warned for the first time that trade tensions may disrupt its access to key production equipment and hit its operations, amid increasing friction between the US and China.
The company, which produces semiconductors for Apple Inc and other major global tech companies, said in its annual report released on Friday that “ongoing trade tensions or protectionist measures could result in increased prices for, or even unavailability of, key equipment.” It pointed to factors such as delays or denials of export licenses, additional export control measures, and other tariff or non-tariff barriers.