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International Trade & IP

The semiconductor industry continues its expansion to every corner of the globe, advancing and enriching the lives of people the world over. Free and open international trade is a primary engine of global growth and development, and continues to be a principal goal of SIA's policy agenda.

SIA continues to pursue a number of global trade objectives, including:

Eliminating new tariffs on emerging semiconductor devices
Supporting new trade agreements
Advancing environmental initiatives and trade liberalization through the Word Semiconductor Council (WSC)
Improving intellectual property protection worldwide
Increasing market access internationally
Upholding strong anti-dumping laws and effective anti-dumping remedies

World Semiconductor Council (WSC)

Advancing Trade Liberalization, Intellectual Property and Environmental Protection

SIA has successfully pursued many key policy objectives through participation in the World Semiconductor Council (WSC). The WSC is composed of executives from SIA members companies, as well as counterparts in China, Chinese Taipei, Europe, Korea, and Japan.

The Governments/Authorities Meeting on Semiconductors (GAMS) is comprised of officials from the US Government and officials representing all WSC regions, and convenes once a year to receive the WSC's recommendations and take action.

Since its inception in 1996, the WSC has worked to advance a number of trade issues, including:

Support for intellectual property protection,
Full transparency of government policies and regulations,
Non-discrimination for foreign products in all markets,
Voluntary and industry-led standards,
An end to investment restrictions tied to technology transfer requirements, and
Zero duties on multi-chip packages.

Additionally, the WSC leads an active environmental program. Our goal is to support sound, scientifically based, positive environmental policies and practices. Specific projects include PFC emission reduction, energy savings, chemical management, and quantitative targets. We have met or exceeded our targets every year. On energy savings, the WSC is actively supporting cooperation and the sharing of information among members to foster the efficient utilization of energy resources. Chemical management is also a key focus of WSC efforts - specifically in the areas of chemical risk assessment and pollution prevention.

For more information on the WSC visit, http://www.semiconductorcouncil.org

Related Materials

WSC Statement 2010

Eliminating Tariffs on Multi-Chip and Muli-Component Packages

In the past, SIA supported deals - particularly the Information Technology Agreement (ITA) - that eliminated tariffs on virtually all information technology goods in all major world markets. Recently, however, new advances in technology that were unanticipated when the tariff deals were signed have led customs authorities around the world to begin to re-impose duties on some semiconductor products. So-called multi-chip packages (MCPs) and muli-component packages (MCOs) are a key example of this situation.

Evolution in the packaging of certain semiconductor devices - which allows more than one piece of silicon inside a package but does not alter the underlying basic functionality of the product - has caused these products to be reclassified for customs purposes and led to the imposition of duties for the first time in years. SIA maintains that this is an evolution in packaging, not a revolutionary change in product, and that these products should be treated for tariff purposes as any other semiconductors, which are duty free in all major markets.

Related Materials

USTR's Announcement of MCP Agreement

Supporting New Trade Agreements

As the United States’ largest exporting industry SIA supports expanded trade liberalization in the current WTO Doha Round negotiations, and is encouraging expansion of the Information Technology Agreement to additional countries and products. SIA will continue to advocate for