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The
White House asked automakers, chip companies and others last
week to provide information on the chip shortage that has forced
cuts to U.S. auto production, and to take the lead in helping to
solve it.
Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said a voluntary request for
information within 45 days on the chips crisis would boost
supply chain transparency and that if companies did not answer
the voluntary request "then we have other tools in our tool box
that require them to give us data".
Taiwan's Economy Ministry, responding to the U.S. demand for
information, said present practice was for companies to
voluntarily provide information and that this was not only aimed
at non-U.S. companies. Taiwan is a major semiconductor maker.
The ministry, lead by its minister Wang Mei-hua, has talked
directly to companies about the issue, it added.
"Moreover, the Taiwanese and U.S. governments have established
multiple channels of communication and have a smooth flow of
information. Taiwan respects and understands U.S. commercial
laws and regulations," the ministry said.
"If our companies face unreasonable demands in international
competition, the government will certainly provide necessary
assistance and express concern to prevent Taiwanese companies
from fighting alone in the international arena."
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd (TSMC), the world's
largest contract chip maker, took part in the White House
meeting.
It said afterwards that the company was supporting and working
with all stakeholders to overcome the shortages, and that the it
had taken "unprecedented actions to address this challenge".
TSMC has pledged to spend $100 billion over the next three years
to expand chip capacity.
(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; editing by Barbara Lewis)
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