Taiwanese electronics firms are gearing up for increased investments in Texas, with potential announcements expected in May to align with President Donald Trump's first 100 days in office, according to the leader of an industry association.
Since taking office on January 20, Trump has criticized Taiwan for its acquisition of U.S. semiconductor business and has hinted at imposing import tariffs on countries with which the U.S. has significant trade deficits, a category that includes Taiwan.
Recently, Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te committed to boosting investments in the United States.
Richard Lee, Chairman of the Taiwan Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers' Association, addressed an audience in Taipei, reporting that the Texas state government, under Republican leadership, has actively pursued investment from Taiwanese businesses.
He projected a substantial increase in investment announcements from major Taiwanese server manufacturers, particularly those specializing in AI servers, within the first 100 days of the Trump administration (approximately May 10th).
While Mr. Lee declined to name specific companies, he noted that many already possess Texas-based facilities, but these existing operations lack the capacity to accommodate anticipated growth in the AI sector, presenting a significant expansion opportunity.
Foxconn, the largest contract electronics manufacturer globally and a key supplier for Apple and Nvidia, revealed in November that one of its subsidiaries invested $33 million in acquiring land and factory buildings in Harris County, Texas.
Executives from Taiwanese laptop manufacturers Compal and Inventec, which also produces AI servers, indicated last month that they are considering expansion into the U.S., with Texas being a prime target.
Inventec refrained from commenting on potential announcements regarding Texas investments in May, while Foxconn and Compal did not provide immediate responses to inquiries.