Global Semiconductor Association: Global chip industry cooperation is very important

According to industry information reports, the US Semiconductor Industry Association delegation (SIA) will go to Xiamen, China next week to participate in the 75th World Semiconductor Council Joint Steering Committee (JSTC) meeting. Participants will include mainland China, Taiwan, the European Union, Industry counterparts in Japan and Korea.

It is reported that this will be the first time that SIA has visited China since the outbreak of the epidemic. This is an important opportunity to discuss issues of common concern to most countries such as trade, global supply chains, government support, the environment and other developments in the industry in the near future.

The semiconductor industry is one of the most integrated in the world, spanning dozens of countries and employing thousands of suppliers. As a result, semiconductors are the fourth most traded commodity, with an annual trade value of nearly $1.5 trillion.

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo recently stated that while the U.S. is focused on supply chain resilience and rebuilding our industrial base through the passage and enactment of the CHIPS Act, the U.S. will never be fully self-sufficient. This means that access to global markets and supply chains is integral to the future success of the U.S. semiconductor industry.

The fact that more than 80% of US semiconductors are sold overseas means that new fabs and jobs created under the auspices of the US CHIPS Act will need greater access to global markets to be financially viable and globally competitive force. SIA and its members are committed to rebuilding U.S. supply chains while furthering greater global market access and fostering the growth of global trade through deeper international cooperation with all key partners and countries.

Central to this mission is the World Semiconductor Council (WSC), established in 1996 as a forum for the world’s major semiconductor producers and regions, whose role is to help coordinate industry and government initiatives and policies to ensure our industry stay healthy.

WSC has been a shining example of our industry’s commitment to international cooperation and policies that promote fairness and openness in the semiconductor industry. For example, the WSC has successfully promoted a duty-free global environment for trade in semiconductor products, successfully added multi-component and multi-chip and multi-component packaging (MCO and MCP) to the WTO’s information technology agreement.

Environmentally, WSC was recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as part of its inaugural Climate Conservation Award in recognition of the semiconductor industry’s efforts to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions used in semiconductor manufacturing. Conservation at WSC Global industry has surpassed its initial 10 percent reduction target for perfluorocarbon (PFC) emissions and achieved a 32 percent reduction in ten years. [3] The WSC is also coordinating global industry efforts to eliminate the use of PFOS, a chemical of concern previously used in semiconductor manufacturing, and work to phase out the use of another chemical, PFOA.

Recently, collaboration among WSC members has been critical to keeping the semiconductor business afloat, and all six members of the WSC quickly signed three global industry statements that were instrumental in convincing governments around the world to designate our industry as a “significant industry” have a real and meaningful impact.

These are just a few ways how the strong relationships and trust established through WSC can help our industry thrive and going forward SIA will continue to work with counterparts in China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea and Europe through WSC and GAMS to build a full A vibrant global policy and innovation ecosystem, and ensuring that the world continues to benefit from innovative solutions to future challenges.

Next week’s JSTC meeting will prepare for the CEO-level WSC meeting, which will be held in Seoul this May, to prepare detailed policy recommendations for the government authority’s annual semiconductor meeting (GAMS). The United States will host the 2023 GAMS conference in Phoenix, Arizona this October. WSC and GAMS provide the semiconductor industry with a unique opportunity to communicate the importance of collaboration.

Global Semiconductor Association: Global chip industry cooperation is very important

As global trade tensions mount, the semiconductor industry urgently needs policies that support open markets, innovation, and secure and resilient global supply chains, and will continue to pursue these policies alongside global semiconductor industry peers at next week’s JSTC conference in Xiamen .