Chip associations seek collaboration, calm in China

Feature articles | March 3, 2023

By Peter Clarke

semiconductor China Analog

The Joint Steering Committee (JSTC) of the World Semiconductor Council (WSC) is due to meet in Xiamen, China, March 7 to 10, with all the world’s major regional bodies set to attend.

These include delegations from the US-based Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA), the Chinese Semiconductor Industry Association, from Taiwan and from equivalent bodies representing the European Union, Japan and Korea.

At a time of rising geopolitical tension and increasing export controls, the JSTC has the difficult task of trying to reverse the political trend towards semiconductor segregation and moving towards freeing up markets and collaboratively building up global supply chains.

The JSTC meeting is preparatory for a CEO-level WSC meeting scheduled to take place in May 2023 in Seoul, South Korea. The CEO meeting is, in turn, expected to prepare detailed policy recommendations for governments to be presented at the annual Government Authorities Meeting on Semiconductors (GAMS) in Phoenix, Arizona, in October 2023.

The WSC’s remit is to facilitate semiconductor industry growth through free and open markets. Similarly, GAMS was set up to promote the growth of the global semiconductor market through improved mutual understanding between industries and governments and cooperative efforts to respond to challenges facing the semiconductor industry.

It is notable that a statement from SIA refers to working with counterparts in China and Chinese Taipei. China considers Taiwan part of China and a rogue state that it will repossess at a time of its own choosing. The SIA’s form of words appears to be designed to avoid offending China.

Dialogue

In a statement the SIA said this would be the first visit to China by an SIA delegation since before the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. As such it would provide an opportunity to discuss recent issues related to trade, global supply chains, government support initiatives, environmental issues and other developments.

The statement said: “The SIA and its members are committed to both rebuilding American supply chains while further promoting more access to global markets and facilitating increased global trade through deeper international collaboration with all key partners and nations.”

It added: “The WSC and GAMS are invaluable forums – unmatched in other sectors – providing a unique opportunity for our industry to convey the importance of cooperation and explore areas of mutual interest with our governments and authorities.”