Ep. 35 Lobbying for Semiconductors in Washington: Patrick Wilson on Two Decades of Chip Policy

Host Wenchi Yu speaks with Patrick Wilson—who until recently served as Vice President of Government Affairs for MediaTek—about how semiconductors went from an obscure, capital‑intensive niche to the center of global industrial strategy. Drawing on two decades in Congress, industry, and the first Trump administration, Patrick explains why Washington woke up to its dependence on Taiwan and Asia, how the TSMC Arizona deal and the CHIPS Act were really conceived, and what political‑risk mitigation strategies Taiwanese and other foreign firms should adopt as they navigate Beijing, Taipei, and Washington.

00:00 - Introduction: Semiconductor industry’s geopolitical significance
02:18 - Industry reluctance and political engagement of chip companies
04:32 - How manufacturing and policy interest surged with geopolitical shifts
06:35 - The 2003 trade disputes over Chinese chip export support
09:16 - The rise of Taiwan’s TSMC and decline of US fab dominance
11:05 - The generational shift in industry leadership and manufacturing shifts
12:45 - Globalization, supply chain vulnerabilities, and strategic concerns
13:04 - Growing US awareness of supply chain fragility pre-COVID
15:09 - The impact of US Tax and R&D policies in semiconductor investment decisions
17:12 - US government funding, China’s rising investment, and research funding gaps
18:37 - Developing the TSMC/Taiwan-US partnership and the Chips Act
20:15 - Building semiconductor fabs in the US: Costs, timelines, and geopolitical considerations
24:29 - Taiwan’s cautious response to manufacturing investments in the US
26:45 - How COVID and industry lobbying shifted US policy and industry strategy
29:55 - Auto industry’s realization of dependence on chips and supply chain transparency
35:47 - Building industry champions and the importance of reputation
37:22 - Strategies for foreign companies to gain influence in Washington and Taipei
39:06 - The delicate balance of Taiwanese diversification away from China
42:16 - US-Taiwan semiconductor cooperation and the importance of joint R&D
44:18 - The significance of Taiwan’s role, trust, and future collaboration
45:47 - Building trust and advocacy for Taiwanese firms in Washington
46:46 - Insights from Condoleezza Rice on managing political risk in corporate strategy

Perspectives with Wenchi Yu

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