TMTPOST -- Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.,   ( TSMC )   could   be   one   of opponents if the Trump administration wants to   expand its stake-taking deal   with Intel   Corporation to other companies receiving U.S. government   subsidies   for the semiconductor industry,   a report on Thursday   suggested.

Credit：TSMC

TSMC   executives have   had preliminary discussions about handing back their U.S. government subsidies if the Trump administration asks to become a stockholder, the Wall Street Journal   cited people familiar   with   the matter. The news, though not being confirmed yet, can be deemed as a   sign that such move   would have faced opposition   from   companies.

The   U.S. Department of Commerce has   awarded   TSMC   up to $6.6 billion   in direct funding under the   CHIPS and Science Act   of 2022 ( CHIPS Act )   in support of   the company ’ s   chip   fabrication ( fab )   in   in Phoenix, Arizona.   TSMC   has   committed to investment of more than $65 billion in three greenfield leading-edge fabs, which will manufacture the world ’ s most advanced semiconductors.   The Taiwan-based company in March announced   it intends   to expand its investment in U.S. by $100 billion with   three   new   fabs.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick   on Tuesday   confirmed the government is in talks with Intel over   the chipmaker ’ s   10% stake. He assailed the act   signed by former President Joe Biden for giving semiconductor manufacturers subsidies without any return for U.S.   taxpayers.  

Lutnick said the plan   to get a stake   would not give the U.S.   governance or voting rights in the company, even though it could make the federal government Intel ’ s largest shareholder.He also signaled President   Donald Trump   could seek clinching   similar   deals   with other recipients of CHIPS   funds.

Lutnick later Tuesday was reported   to be   working on how the   U.S. federal government can receive   stakes   in exchange for funds under   the CHIPS   Act   Incentives Program   for companies such as   Micron   Technology, Inc., TSMC   and Samsung Electronics.  

The Wall Street Journal   reported on Thursday that TSMC   has never   relied heavily on   U.S. financial support   though its plan to build fabs   in   Arizona   was made under pressure   from the   former Biden   administration. And TSMC   may be   not U.S. President   Donald   Trump ’ s target when he   weighs the stake-for-funding deal.

The   report   said   White House isn ’ t eyeing companies like TSMC   and Micron.

The   Trump administration   isn ’ t   looking to hold equity in   companies like TSMC   that   are   increasing their investments in U.S., instead, companies   that aren ’ t boosting their pledges could give the government equity in   exchange   for subsidies, the report   cited   a government official.   The official   said   the Commerce Department   isn ’ t looking for equities from TSMC   and Micron.