• Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
  • WSTS Login
  • Contact
Skip to content
  • Home
  • About
    • Mission
    • History
    • Board of Directors
    • Members
    • Join SIA
    • Staff
    • Partner Organizations
    • SIA Jobs
  • SEMIS 101
    • What is a Semiconductor?
    • Industry Impact
    • Resources
    • FAQ
  • Policy
    • Policy Overview
    • Policy Reports
    • CHIPS for America Act
    • Research
    • Trade
    • Domestic Manufacturing
    • Tax
    • Export Control
    • Workforce & Immigration
    • Environment, Health & Safety
    • Supply Chain Security
    • Anti-Counterfeiting
    • Intellectual Property
    • Emerging Technologies
  • Market Data & Resources
    • Market Data
    • Resources
    • Policy Reports
    • 2022 State of the Industry
    • 2022 Factbook
    • SIA Global Semiconductor Unit Sales Dashboard
  • News & Events
    • Latest News
    • Blog
    • SIA News Roundup
    • 2022 SIA Awards Dinner
    • Events & Webinars
    • Awards
    • Sign Up for SIA News
  • WSTS Login
  • Contact

Trade

Expand Access to Global Markets

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. Learn more about the global semiconductor value chain here.

Official Comments and Letters >

All Trade Resources >

Featured Trade Resources

Strengthening the Global Semiconductor Supply Chain in an Uncertain Era
Strengthening Trade and Our Supply Chain
2020 State of the U.S. Semiconductor Industry
Winning the Future: A Blueprint for Sustained U.S. Leadership in Semiconductor Technology
Tariffs on Chip Imports Would Harm U.S. Manufacturing
Semiconductors & the World Trade Organization
How Global Trade Rules Have Spurred Semiconductor Growth & Innovation
#5
Semiconductors are a top U.S. export after refined oil, aircraft, crude oil, and natural gas.
82%
82% of U.S. sales are to overseas customers.
$61.1 Billion
The United States exported $61.1 billion in semiconductors in 2022 and maintains a consistent trade surplus in semiconductors.
48%
The U.S. semiconductor industry is the worldwide leader with about half of global market share.

Global Semiconductor Value Chain Map

 

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

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

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. [DOWNLOAD THE MAY 2018 WSC JOINT STATEMENT]

The Governments/Authorities Meeting on Semiconductors (GAMS) is comprised of officials from the U.S. Government and officials representing all WSC regions. It 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
  • Zero duties on semiconductor products, including multi-chip packages (MCPs) and multi-component integrated circuits (MCOs)

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.

Ensuring Full Transparency of Government Support in the Semiconductor Sector

SIA seeks to foster transparency around China’s IC industry support measures with the goal of ensuring government policies and investments are market-based, non-discriminatory, transparent, and consistent with international commitments and trade rules. SIA works with international allies to raise attention to market distorting aspects of China’s industrial policy and promote market-driven approaches. The WSC, along with the governments/authorities of the six WSC members, has endorsed a set of best practices known as Regional Support Guidelines and Best Practices. These best practices include a notification and consultation provision for relevant programs in the semiconductor sector.

SIA also supports WTO discussions regarding developing stronger rules on industrial subsidies and SOEs to promote a more level playing field for our industry.

Eliminating Tariffs on Semiconductors and ICT Products

SIA has strongly supported deals that provide tariff-free treatment for semiconductors – most notably the Information Technology Agreement (ITA), and its recent expansion in 2015. These agreements have eliminated tariffs on virtually all information technology goods in all major world markets, including advanced semiconductors like multi-chip packages (MCP) and multi-component semiconductors (MCOs). This has resulted in tariffs savings for the semiconductor industry of $150-300 million annually.

To maximize the benefits of ITA expansion, SIA is encouraging non-ITA members to join the expanded ITA. Key markets that have not yet joined the ITA or ITA expansion include Vietnam, Indonesia, Pakistan, Argentina, Kenya, Brazil, and Mexico, among others.

As semiconductor technology continues to advance, SIA will also work to ensure that new and innovative semiconductor products remain duty-free.

Tariffs on Chip Imports Would Harm U.S. Manufacturing>

Supporting New Trade Agreements

As one of the United States’ largest exporting industries, SIA is a strong advocate of expanded trade liberalization, and actively supports the modernization and negotiation of new trade agreements to include disciplines that strengthen digital trade and combat the rising trend of digital nationalism that threatens the digital economy. SIA has advocated for semiconductor industry priorities in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), Environmental Goods Agreement (EGA), Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA), expansion of the WTO Information Technology Agreement (ITA), the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA), and modernization of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

48%
The U.S. semiconductor industry is the worldwide leader with nearly half of global market share.
2M+
The industry directly employs over 307,000 people in the U.S. and supports more than 1.7 million additional U.S. jobs.
#5
Semiconductors are a top U.S. export after refined oil, crude oil, natural gas, and civilian aircraft.
1/5
The U.S. industry invests about one-fifth of revenue in R&D on average, among the most of any sector.

The Latest in Trade

Meeting of Semiconductor Associations from Around the World Underscores Importance of Global Chip Sector Collaboration

Blog : 03/02/23

U.S. and India Semiconductor Groups Announce Initiative to Strengthen Public-Private Collaboration in Chip Ecosystem

Press Release : 01/31/23

New Report Identifies Challenges to Continued U.S. Leadership in Semiconductor Design, Innovation

Press Release : 11/30/22
  • Learn more about Trade:

  • News
  • Resources

1101 K Street NW Suite 450, Washington, DC 20005
E-mail

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
  • Sign up for SIA News

© 2023 Semiconductor Industry Association. All Rights Reserved.
  • Privacy Policy