World’s Top Chipmakers Provide Data to U.S. as Deadline Arrives

Several chipmakers have already replied to a US request for supply chain information to aid in the resolution of the worldwide chip shortfall, with several of the world's major suppliers indicating they will not give sensitive data.

According to a business representative, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. has already provided its response, guaranteeing that no customer-specific information was published. According to a US government website, other companies such as Micron Technology Inc., Western Digital Corp., and United Microelectronics Corp. have also submitted applications ahead of the Monday deadline.

South Korean IT giants, including Samsung Electronics Co. and SK Hynix Inc., are preparing for a "voluntary submission" of pertinent data, according to the finance ministry, which added that the corporations have been discussing with the US on the scope of data to be supplied. According to local media sources, the corporations will only "partially cooperate" with the data request.

In September, the US Department of Commerce sent questionnaires to firms in the semiconductor supply chain, asking for information on the continued chip shortfall. Despite the fact that the request is optional, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo cautioned business leaders that if they do not reply, the White House may utilize the Defense Production Act or other mechanisms to compel their hand.

The request from Washington has prompted debate in Taiwan and South Korea, with some worrying that the US is requesting trade secrets. There have also been fears in China that the US may prosecute Chinese enterprises using materials given by TSMC and others.

Chipmakers were asked to respond to questions on stocks, backlogs, delivery times, procurement methods, and what they were doing to boost output in the survey. The Commerce Department also wanted to know who the top clients were for each product.

In an email to Bloomberg News on Sunday, TSMC spokesperson Nina Kao stated that the company remained dedicated to "safeguarding customers' confidentiality as always."

TSMC and Samsung Electronics, the world's two largest contract chipmakers, service a wide range of customers, including automobiles. Over the last year, a continuous scarcity of essential semiconductors has wreaked havoc on a wide range of businesses, especially automobile production, which is a major contributor to the US economy, but there are hints that the supply shortfall may have peaked.