Companies such as Intel and Infineon had indicated they would cooperate with a voluntary request for data on the semiconductor shortage but the US Commerce Department said it may make disclosure compulsory depending on the number and quality of responses.
The Reuters news agency noted the White House had made the request to automakers, chip suppliers and others last month saying the information would boost supply chain transparency and help understand where bottlenecks exist. The deadline for response was 8 November.
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“Companies including Intel, GM, Infineon, and SK Hynix, have indicated that they plan to be very forthcoming with their data. We are very appreciative of their efforts and encourage other companies to follow suit,” a commerce spokesperson told Reuters.
“The (request for information) is voluntary but this information is crucial to addressing concerns about transparency in the supply chain. Whether or not we have to use compulsory measures depends on how many companies engage and the quality of the data shared.”
Intel, GM, Infineon and SK Hynix did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.
Reuters reported the request had caused concern in Taiwan because companies such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSMC) would have to hand over sensitive data. TSMC said earlier this month it would not leak any sensitive company information.
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By GlobalDataTSMC said in a statement to Reuters it was preparing and would respond to the US request for information.
South Korea’s trade ministry had also expressed concern over the request.
“The scope of the requested data is vast and a number of operational secrets are included, which is a big concern in South Korea,” it said in a 6 October statement cited by Reuters.
However, the news agency added, South Korean trade minister Moon Sung-wook told a parliament committee this week companies were preparing to review and submit data that could be provided without violating contractual confidentiality provisions or domestic laws.
