TSMC, the world's largest foundry company, changed its original position and provided semiconductor supply chain information to the US Department of Commerce. Previously, TSMC had immediately rebutted the request to disclose supply chain information. As TSMC responded to the request of the US Department of Commerce, Korean semiconductor companies are also expected to participate.
On the 7th, 23 companies and universities, including TSMC and UMC, Taiwanese semiconductor foundry (consignment production) companies, and Shinko Electric Industries, a Japanese semiconductor packaging company, submitted semiconductor supply chain information to the Department of Commerce. UMC is the world's fourth-largest foundry company. Shinko Electric Industries is the world’s sixth-largest packaging company. In addition, companies such as Micron Technology, the third-largest memory semiconductor manufacturer in the US, Western Digital, a US memory semiconductor company, and universities such as University of Notre Dame and Boise State University also provided their semiconductor supply chain information.
According to the public data, most of the key data corresponding to trade secrets are omitted. TSMC marked 'Manufacture Only' for semiconductor product types, materials, and process nodes (nm). This contrasts with Tower Semiconductor, the world's seventh-largest foundry company, which has filled in the most information, partially providing products, materials, and delivery period (lead type). Instead, TSMC explained that "the response method was submitted collectively in a confidential document" in relation to the question about the Ministry of Commerce's response to the semiconductor supply chain.
Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix are also known to comply with the Department of Commerce's request. The deadline for providing information to the Department of Commerce is November 8 (local time), and information may be provided during this time.
Ki-nam Kim, vice chairman of Samsung Electronics, recently mentioned that they are “carefully preparing by considering various matters" in response to the recent US request to submit semiconductor information.
The Korean government is also responding to the US semiconductor supply chain. The Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Seung-wook Moon will visit the US on the 9th to meet with the US Department of Commerce. Minister Moon is expected to request cooperation from the US government on the supply chain of semiconductors and discuss ways to strengthen cooperation between the two countries.
By Staff Reporter Ji-woong Kim (jw0316@etnews.com)