Trade
The semiconductor industry supply chain relies on the interconnectedness of global economies and the free flow of goods and data across borders. SEMI’s core trade principles include the protection of intellectual property rights, the reduction and elimination of tariffs, the harmonization of global technology standards, and a transparent, rules-based global trading system that fosters fair competition and market access for all companies in the semiconductor supply chain.
U.S. tariffs on $500 billion in imports from China have increased costs for U.S. consumers, and created economic uncertainty and market distortions that impact negatively U.S. businesses.
SEMI supports the implementation of the U.S. - China phase-1 agreement to increase Intellectual property rights (IPR) protection for the semiconductor industry.
As the U.S. negotiates new free trade agreements in 2020, including with the U.K., the European Union, India and regional blocs in Asia, SEMI will continue to engage with negotiators to advocate for our core principles. Additionally, the US – Mexico – Canada (USMCA) agreement that took effect in 2020 set a new digital trade standard for global trade agreements. SEMI joins with other technology associations and U.S. technology companies in supporting similar standards in any new trade deals.
Read SEMI-USTR comment letter concerning U.S. WTO Rights in Large Civil Aircraft Case
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SEMI Trade Perspectives
2019 in Review – A Transformational Year for SEMI Global Advocacy
January 7, 2020 - While no one organization can resolve current global trade issues, SEMI did exert its influence effectively on behalf of its members.
SEMI Supports Timely Ratification of the USMCA
December 12, 2019 - SEMI welcomes final passage of the USMCA and the critical certainty it will bring to trade rules within North America going forward.
SEMI, 600 Other Companies Urge Trump Administration to Resolve US-Sino Trade Dispute
June 13, 2019 – SEMI, with 660 other companies and associations, urged the Trump Administration in a letter not to escalate its trade disputer with China by imposing new tariffs and to negotiate a resolution.
Export Control
Export controls on semiconductor devices, manufacturing equipment, materials, software and related technologies should be narrowly tailored to specific national security concerns and applied multilaterally to minimize global market distortions. Unilateral U.S. export restrictions in the face of foreign availability of interchangeable goods from non-U.S. sources harm companies with operations in the United States, without effectively restricting such items to end users of concern. Moreover, proposed changes to export control regulations should strive to provide industry stakeholders the opportunity to provide comments before they take effect.
Recent regulations to significantly expand the scope of items subject to the EAR and expand unilateral controls over most semiconductor equipment and design software, as well as some semiconductor devices, materials and technology, have the potential to result in significant negative impacts to the semiconductor industry and the broader technology sector that relies on predictable access to semiconductors.
Recent U.S. Export Control Position Papers
April 6 SEMI Comments on Supply Chain Issues
January 2021 Letter from SEMI to Secretary-Designate Raimondo
November 2020 Comments from SEMI on the Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Identification and Review of Controls for Certain Foundational Technologies Read the Blog Post
June 2020 Comments on Additional Permissive Reexports (APR)
April 2020 Letter to President Trump
February 2020 Letter to President Trump
December 2019 Multi-Association Letter to Secretary Ross Letter
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Recent Stories
U.S. chipmaking industry pushes back on proposed export rule changes