PHOENIX (AZFamily) — A report from the United States Joint Economic Committee shows the country is running a trade deficit of nearly $56 billion in April.
Economists say this means the U.S. is buying more from other countries than it is selling out.
The deficit highlights U.S. reliance on imports from Taiwan, especially as Arizona builds up its chip industry. The deficit with Taiwan is a reminder of how much the U.S. and Arizona companies still rely on overseas semiconductors and electronics.
Even with investments like TSMC expanding in the Valley, an Arizona State University supply chain economist says it will take years before Arizona production is big enough to make a significant impact.
Arizona production to remain small fraction of global output
“We need to understand that manufacturing of a FAB facility takes time,” said Hitendra Chaturvedi, an ASU supply chain economist. “If everything goes according to plan, Arizona’s FAB manufacturing facilities, by TSMC, will be generating about 100,000 wafers per month. That is 1.2 million per year.”
TSMC produces about 17 million wafers per year.
“At 1.2 million, at full production capacity, in 2030, Arizona will be only at 7% of the global production of TSMC,” Chaturvedi said.
TSMC says it expects three fabs up and running by 2030. There is no timeline for the other three.
With tariff questions and global conflicts jolting markets this year, that uncertainty matters. Economists say making chips in Arizona does not automatically mean prices drop.
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