SEMI, the global industry association serving the electronics manufacturing supply chain, today voiced support and encouragement for trade discussions between U.S. President Donald Trump and People’s Republic of China President Xi Jinping during the G20 Summit in Argentina on November 30 and December 1. Representing the semiconductor industry end-to-end, from chip design through manufacturing, SEMI urged both leaders to reach a constructive deal and offered trade principles beneficial to the global microelectronics manufacturing supply chain.
“SEMI members are key enablers of the more than $2 trillion electronics manufacturing supply chain, providing more than 350,000 jobs in the United State alone,” said Ajit Manocha, SEMI president and CEO. “Our global business benefits from free and fair trade, open markets, and support for international laws governing IP, cybersecurity and national security. I urge the leaders of China and United States to come to the negotiating table and agree on a framework that can resolve the current trade frictions which negatively impact our industry.”
Recent trade tensions, together with expected export controls, burden the global electronics manufacturing supply chain and have forced many SEMI member companies to pause or rethink their investment strategies. Over the past six months, SEMI has testified that tariffs threaten to undercut the ability of many SEMI members to sell overseas by increasing costs, stifling innovation, and endangering U.S. technological leadership.
SEMI continues to educate policymakers about the critical importance of free and fair trade, open markets, and respect and enforcement of IP for all players in the global electronics manufacturing supply chain. As part of this initiative, SEMI is outlining “10 Principles for the Global Semiconductor Supply Chain in Modern Trade Agreements” and encouraging their adoption as our leaders negotiate a new trade relationship between the U.S. and China.
The 10 principles can be read here: