About a month ago, in December, the U.S. formally launched a silicon alliance to counter China's growing dominance in 21st century's technologies. Japan, South Korea, Singapore, the UK, Australia and Israel were part of the alliance. India was conspicuously absent in a grouping of nations that were
In a city like Bengaluru, restless, creative, and perpetually hungry for the next new thing, diners are no longer searching for just a good meal. They're searching for something harder to define and even harder to forget. In an era of choice paralysis
When people think of cervical cancer, they often imagine dramatic warning signs, severe pain, heavy bleeding, or obvious illness. In reality, cervical cancer is far more deceptive. “In its early stages, it is often more of a whisper than a shout," says Dr Ninad Katdare
The move to replace Rohit Sharma came as a major surprise to the cricketing fraternity. Rohit Sharma was removed from ODI captaincy despite winning two ICC trophies in nine months, sparking intense debate over the decision. While selectors named it as a future plan for WC 2027;fans across the world
Commuters in India face a constant challenge: Potholes. Not only do they cause traffic delays but are also dangerous. In a bid to tackle this persisting problem, Kakinada city in Andhra Pradesh has rolled out a tech-driven solution: a specialised pothole-repairing vehicle popularly called the
Nari Nari Naduma Murari X Review: Nari Nari Naduma Murari is a story about two women and a young man. New Delhi: Filmmaker Ram Abbaraju's latest Telugu comedy drama Nari Nari Naduma Murari opened in cinemas on January 14, 2026, coinciding with Sankranti festival and received a warm response
The nationwide protests challenging Iran's theocracy appeared increasingly smothered on Thursday (January 15, 2026), a week after authorities shut the country off from the world and escalated a bloody crackdown that activists say has killed at least 2,637 people
Adversarial elements, including hostile forces from across the border, would attempt to create trouble in Jammu and Kashmir but preparedness on the ground remains strong, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Friday (January 16, 2026) said.Adversarial elements
U.S., Taiwan sign $250 billion trade deal, cutting tariffs on Taiwanese goods
U.S., Taiwan sign $250 billion trade deal, cutting tariffs on Taiwanese goods
The United States and Taiwan reached a trade deal on Thursday (January 15, 2026) that cuts tariffs on Taiwanese goods in exchange for $250 billion in new investments in the U.S. tech industry.
The deal is the latest President Donald Trump has struck— such as those with the European Union and Japan— since he unveiled a sweeping tariff plan last April to address trade imbalances. Mr. Trump also has a one-year trade truce with China to stabilise ties with the world's second largest economy.
Mr. Trump initially set the tariff at 32% on Taiwanese goods but later changed it to 20%. The new agreement slashes the tariff rate to 15%, the same as levied on other U.S. trading partners in the Asia-Pacific region such as Japan and South Korea.
In a statement, the U.S. Department of Commerce said the deal with Taiwan would establish an “economic partnership” to create several “world-class” U.S.-based industrial parks in order to help build up domestic production. The department described it as "a historic trade deal that will drive a massive reshoring of America's semiconductor sector.” The Taiwanese government affirmed key details in the deal in a statement, saying that the “Taiwan model" will go to the U.S. and help expand the global competitiveness of the island's technology industry while deepening strategic cooperation between the two nations.
Taiwan's executive branch said the island's companies would specifically invest $250 billion in industries such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence applications and energy.
In addition to cutting the tariffs on the island nation, the Commerce Department said it will exempt certain imports such as generic pharmaceuticals and aircraft components from Taiwan. Taiwanese semiconductor producers that invest in the U.S. also will get favorable tariff treatments, including exemptions, the department said.
One day before the deal was announced, Beijing, which claims Taiwan to be part of China, scoffed at it, calling the agreement “an economic plunder” by the U.S. on Taiwan.
The deal came just when Taiwan-based TSMC, the world's largest computer chipmaker, on Thursday (January 15, 2026) announced plans to increase its capital spending by as much as nearly 40% this year after it reported a 35% jump in its net profit for the latest quarter thanks to the boom in artificial intelligence.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation, a major supplier to companies including Nvidia and Apple, reported a net profit of 506 billion new Taiwan dollars ($16 billion) for the October-December quarter, a 35% surge from a year earlier, better than analysts' estimates.
TSMC said on Thursday (January 15, 2026) that its revenue in the last quarter increased 21% from a year earlier to more than 1.046 trillion new Taiwan dollars ($33 billion).
TSMC said it plans to boost its capital expenditure budget to $52 billion-$56 billion for 2026, up from about $40 billion last year.
The company's Taiwan-listed shares have jumped 59% over the past 12 months, reflecting its strong position in the AI-driven market.
Other tech giants including Microsoft, Meta and Alphabet are spending big on investments in AI infrastructure.
“We expect our business to be supported by continuous strong demand for our leading edge process technologies,” Wendell Huang, TSMC's chief financial officer, said in a conference call. He said spending would be “significantly higher” in the next three years.
Asked about concerns over an AI bubble— as critics point to ballooning investments which might not pay off— TSMC chairman and CEO C.C. Mr. Wei said he is confident that the growing demand from customers is real.
“I'm also very nervous about it, you bet,” said Mr. Wei. “AI is real. Not only real, it's starting to grow into our daily life." With a market capitalisation— total outstanding shares times share price— of approximately $1.4 trillion, TSMC is currently more valuable than Samsung Electronics and Alibaba. It is Asia's most valuable listed company.
Alphabet, Google's parent, passed the $4 trillion market capitalization mark this month, the fourth Big Tech company to hit that mark after Nvidia, Apple and Microsoft, although worries about an AI bubble had led to occasional sell-offs.
TSMC has pledged around $165 billion of investments in the U.S. and said on Thursday (January 15, 2026) it's speeding up construction of new plants in Arizona, looking to create a fabrication plant cluster and meet strong demand from clients.
A primary beneficiary of AI, given its dominant share in cutting-edge chip manufacturing, TSMC's outlook remains optimistic, analysts from Morningstar said in a recent report.
“It (TSMC) is immune from market share shifts as almost every AI company relies on TSMC to make chips ranging from application-specific integrated circuits to GPUs (graphics processing units),” the Morningstar analysts said. “This reliance translates into strong pricing power.” TSMC also has strong buffers with a “robust backlog from deep-pocketed customers," they said, even if there are any short-term drops in demand.
Published - January 16, 2026 07:30 am IST
World / Taiwan / USA / trade agreements
Source: TheHindu
Related Posts: Jaishankar, Rubio hold phone talks on trade, defence cooperation Stock markets trade flat amid volatile trends China announces record trade surplus despite Trump tariffs China announces record $1tn trade surplus despite Trump tariffs Microsoft in record deal for soil carbon credits as data centres surge Miscrosoft signs record deal to buy soil carbon credit in push for green goal South Korea's Auto Exports Hit Record $72 Billion In 2025 Tiger Global liable to pay tax on 2018 Flipkart deal India-US Trade Talks US to cut tariffs on Taiwanese goods after investment pledge
Delhi Metro Bike Taxi Service: The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is set to introduce an “Integrated Last Mile Connectivity” service, offering significant relief to daily commuters in the national capital. The “Integrated Last Mile Connectivity” service
Just now
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will announce the name of its new national president on 20 January, the party said on Friday. The election process and nomination filing will take place on 19 January. Currently, Union Health Minister J P Nadda holds the BJP national president post
Just now
Kannada superstar Yash's upcoming film Toxic has found itself at the centre of controversy following the release of its teaser on January 8. A brief but intimate car scene featuring Yash and a female actor quickly went viral, drawing sharp reactions online and prompting multiple complaints
Just now
Pakistan signed an MoU with a firm linked to Trump-family-backed World Liberty Financial to explore using its USD1 stablecoin for cross-border payments, marking an early sovereign partnership with Reuters reporting. Pakistan on Wednesday announced that it has signed an agreement with a firm linked
1 minutes ago
Ikkis, one of the first releases of 2026, quickly grabbed everyone's attention due to its plot and cast. In the film, Agastya Nanda essays the role of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, India's youngest recipient of the Param Vir Chakra. Dharmendra appears as his father in what marks his final
1 minutes ago
Mexican Foreign Minister Juan Ramon de la Fuente and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed security and reaffirmed their partnership. The U.S. emphasized that incremental progress on border security is unacceptable, demanding concrete outcomes to dismantle narcoterrorist networks and reduce
Just now
Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman declines legal action against KKR after the BCCI-mandated termination of his ₹9.20 crore IPL 2026 contract amid geopolitical tensions. The Indian Premier League (IPL) is often celebrated as the "land of opportunity
1 minutes ago
Over the last several elections, including the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls, it has been observed that the Congress and CPI(M), once the leading parties in the state, have fallen behind, with the main battle emerging between the BJP and the TMC. Facing a political landscape in West Bengal that has
1 minutes ago
India's startup ecosystem has undergone a dramatic transformation over the past decade, emerging as one of the most vibrant and widely distributed entrepreneurial landscapes in the world, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Friday as the government marked 10 years of the Startup
1 minutes ago
Dining in 2026 is no longer just about what's on the plate, it's about atmosphere, emotion, storytelling, and a sense of place. Across India's most dynamic cities, restaurants are evolving into immersive experiences, where design, music, cocktails
1 minutes ago
The Supreme Court rejected a plea filed by Allahabad High Court Justice Yashwant Varma, who faces impeachment proceedings following the cash-discovery row challenging the decision of the Lok Sabha Speaker to constitute a 3-member inquiry committee against him
1 minutes ago
Venezuelan Opposition leader María Corina Machado on Thursday presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to United States President Donald Trump at the White House. Trump will keep the medal, CNN quoted an unidentified White House official as saying
Just now
120 Bahadur On OTT: Prime Video Announces the Global Streaming Premiere of 120 Bahadur, Starting Today 120 Bahadur On OTT: Actor-director and producer Farhan Akhtar's stirring war drama 120 Bahadur finally arrives on OTT space. Prime announced its streaming arrival on social media today
Just now
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)'s PSLV-C62 mission carrying the EOS-N1 earth observation satellite failed to finish its intended trajectory on Monday (January 12, 2026) after an anomaly was detected during the end of the third stage of the launch vehicle, prompting a detailed analysis
Just now
iQOO Z11 Turbo Launch Update: The iQOO Z11 Turbo just made its official debut in China on Thursday, and this is the latest addition to the company's new lineup. In China the phone is currently on sale via the company's official website. This new model comes with four colourways
1 minutes ago
The United States and Taiwan reached a trade deal on Thursday (January 15, 2026) that cuts tariffs on Taiwanese goods in exchange for $250 billion in new investments in the U.S. tech industry. The deal is the latest President Donald Trump has struck— such as those with the European Union and
1 minutes ago
South Korea's impeached president Yoon Suk Yeol has been found guilty of abuse of power and falsifying documents over his failed martial law bid in 2024. A Seoul court is now deliberating on whether he also obstructed the course of justice by evading arrest
Just now
Vote counting for the Thane Municipal Corporation elections is in progress. Early trends indicate the Mahayuti alliance is taking the lead. This election marks the first civic test for the Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS alliance. The results are crucial for all political parties involved
1 minutes ago
Chest pain and breathlessness are among the most concerning cardiovascular symptoms patients experience. According to Dr Rajdatt Deore, Consultant Cardiologist, Manipal Hospitals, Baner, Pune, while many individuals may attribute these symptoms to anxiety, gas, or fatigue
1 minutes ago
Aritas Vinyl IPO commenced on Friday, January 16 and will conclude on Tuesday, January 20. Aritas Vinyl IPO price band has been set at ₹40 to ₹47 equity share, each with a face value of ₹10. Investors can place bids for a minimum of 3,000 equity shares and in multiples of 3
1 minutes ago
Maharashtra Election Results Live: Vote counting is underway for elections across 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra. The main contest is for Mumbai's Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. Results are expected to influence urban politics statewide. Early trends from Mumbai are keenly awaited
Just now
Sharing his career journey on Reddit, a techie has shared his stellar salary package increase in just two years. New Delhi: A techie from a tier 3 engineering college has shared his journey from earning Rs 10 lakh per annum to Rs 40 lakh per annum in just two years
Just now
Infosys Share Price: Shares of IT bellwether Infosys Ltd., India's second-largest IT services company, were trading 5% higher in early trade on Friday, January 16, after the company announced its quarterly results post-market hours on Wednesday
Just now
Mumbai, Jan. 15 — Kia India, one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has announced the addition of the HTE(EX) trim to its Carens Clavis (ICE) range at prices starting INR 1.25 million for the G1.5 petrol, INR 1.34 million for the G1.5 turbo-petrol and INR 1.45 million for the D1
Just now
Mexican Foreign Minister Juan Ramon de la Fuente and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed security and reaffirmed their partnership. The U.S. stated that incremental progress on border security is unacceptable, demanding concrete outcomes to dismantle narcoterrorist networks and reduce
Just now
The country's merchandise exports rose 1.87% to $38.5 billion in December 2025, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said on Thursday (January 15, 2026). Imports increased to $63.55 billion in December 2025 from $58.43 billion a year ago. The trade deficit stood at $25 billion during the month under
Just now
Maharashtra BMC Election Results Live Updates: The counting of votes for elections to 29 municipal corporations across Maharashtra is underway, with all eyes on Mumbai, where the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance is engaged in a high-profile contest against the reunited Thackeray cousins for control of
Just now
