National security move, as the US Commerce Dept says it will launch survey of US semiconductor supply chain.
The US Department of Commerce has announced a new review, in a sign of the continuing geopolitical tensions around the world, and the importance of semiconductors.
The move comes after the importance of securing semiconductor supplies was highlighted during the Covid-19 pandemic, coupled with the growing tensions with China over the issue of Taiwan - the source of much of the leading semiconductor manufacturing.
As part of its response to the chip shortage scare during the Coronavirus pandemic, the United States in 2022 enacted the Chips and Science Act, in order to encourage and significantly boost American semiconductor manufacturing and research over five years.
The Chips Act set aside $39bn in direct grants and about $75bn in loans and loan guarantees, and has catalysed more than $230bn in private semiconductor investment, including from chip giants such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, Intel, Micron Technology and Samsung Electronics.
President Biden has previously made clear that it was a matter of national security for the US to make its own chips.
This month the US awarded a $35 million grant to the American subsidiary of UK aerospace firm BAE Systems in the first semiconductor grant under the 2022 Chips and Science Act.
Now the US Department of Commerce will in January 2024 begin a new survey to examine the US semiconductor supply chain and national defence industrial base to address national security concerns from Chinese-sourced chips.
The US said the intent of the survey is to identify how US companies are sourcing current-generation and mature-node semiconductors, also known as legacy chips.
This analysis will inform US policy to bolster the semiconductor supply chain, promote a level playing field for legacy chip production, and reduce national security risks posed by the People's Republic of China.
The Bureau of Industry and Security within the US Commerce Department will launch the survey, which focuses on the use and sourcing of PRC-manufactured legacy chips in the supply chains of critical US industries.
This Cyber News was published on www.silicon.co.uk. Publication date: Thu, 21 Dec 2023 17:13:05 +0000