US, Japan to Create Semiconductor Supply Chain Working Group, Report Says

The U.S. and Japan plan to set up a working group on securing supply chains for strategic technologies, including semiconductors, Nikkei Asia said in a report April 1. The two sides will likely agree to terms on the project -- including cooperation on research and development and production of strategic technology components -- when Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and President Joe Biden meet in Washington later this month, the report said. Both countries hope to address a global shortage of semiconductors and want to create a system where production doesn’t rely on specific regions that may present geopolitical risks, such as Taiwan and China, the report in Nikkei Asia said. The working group will reportedly include representatives from Japan’s trade and national security agencies and the U.S. National Security Council and the Commerce Department.

The group could also be a forum for the U.S. to push for Japan to tighten export restrictions on shipments of technologies to China, including Huawei, the report said. The report comes as the U.S. looks for ways to boost the competitiveness and capacity of its semiconductor industry (see 2103290003). The White House and Commerce didn’t comment.