TSMC Chip Import Ban Pushed By GOP Lawmakers Over UMC Patents

Four Republican lawmakers are pushing the U.S. International Trade Commission to block imports of semiconductor chips made by TSMC that allegedly infringe on American patents. The move targets chip production at 7nm process nodes and smaller, a manufacturing tier critical for AI accelerators, smartphones, and personal computers.

GOP lawmakers urge ITC to ban imports of infringing chips affecting AI accelerators and PCs

The investigation centers on five specific patents held by United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC). Complainants Longitude Licensing and Marlin Semiconductor filed the complaint under Section 337 of the Tariff Act. The ITC assigned the case number 337-TA-1443 to review these alleged intellectual property violations.

The legal action names TSMC as a primary respondent alongside major technology vendors including Apple, Qualcomm, Broadcom, Lenovo, Motorola, and OnePlus entities. These companies face potential import bans if the commission finds that their products violate the asserted patents during manufacturing or distribution within the United States.

An initial ruling from the ITC is expected in October. The timeline includes a subsequent 60-day presidential review period where the sitting president can decide whether to block the imported chips based on the commission's findings.

This effort coincides with disruptions in global supply chains for semiconductor materials, including tungsten hexafluoride, following Chinese export restrictions on tungsten that have caused significant shortages for Japanese manufacturers processing the gas for advanced chip production.

The lawmakers have urged the ITC to block imports of the infringing chips to protect U.S. patent holders, as detailed in their formal request regarding the ongoing investigation. The investigation centers on the five asserted U.S. patents held by United Microelectronics Corporation, with no mention of broader manufacturing policies or trade tariffs in the provided details.