NEW WORLD SEMICONDUCTOR COUNCIL UNVEILED IN BRUSSELS,
SIA Applauds New Government Trade Deal, Announces Industry Agreement
BRUSSELS, Belgium, June 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Governmental leaders from four major semiconductor
producing regions decided today to meet annually to receive recommendations of the new World
Semiconductor Council and to discuss chip-related policy issues. The governments of the United States,
Japan, Korea and the Commission of the European Union unveiled the Joint Statement Regarding
Semiconductors, a new accord which is a multilateral replacement for the 1996 Joint Statement by the
Government of the United States and the Government of Japan Concerning Semiconductors.
At the same meeting, the industry associations from these countries announced a new private-sector
agreement establishing a new World Semiconductor Council (WSC). The government Joint Statement
welcomes the new industry agreement and the creation of the WSC.
"The World Semiconductor Council should serve as an example
that open and competitive markets, and not market barriers,
tariffs, and protectionism, are the keys to economic growth and
prosperity," said Wilfred J. Corrigan, LSI Logic Corporation
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and chairman of the SIA WSC
delegation. "We applaud the new government Joint Statement and
its commitment for governments to meet with industry on an annual
basis to pursue policies that will foster growth, spur competition
and open markets worldwide."
"Consumers around the world are benefiting from the advances in
semiconductor technology which allow smaller cell phones, faster
Internet connections, and greater PC memory, all at lower cost,"
added SIA President George Scalise. "The WSC's commitment to continue
its efforts to keep markets open will help insure that consumers
continue to receive the fruits of the industry's innovation without
unnecessary additional costs."
The Charter members of the WSC include the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA), the Electronic
Industries Association of Japan (EIAJ), the European Electronic Component Manufacturers Association
(EECA), and the Korea Semiconductor Industry Association (KSIA). The Taiwanese authorities are parties
to the Joint Statement, and the Taiwan Semiconductor Industry Association (TSIA) is a member of the
WSC. The Joint Statement calls for annual meetings with the WSC to discuss policy issues affecting the
industry.
The WSC was originally created by the 1996 Agreement between EIAJ and SIA on International
Cooperation Regarding Semiconductors -- it brings together senior executives from semiconductor
making companies from around the world. The mission of the WSC is to pursue policies that promote free
and open world trade, and to address issues of common concern to chipmakers everywhere.
Membership in the WSC is open only to major producing countries or regions that have committed to
eliminate their semiconductor tariffs. Countries that adhere to the principles of the Joint Statement, and
whose industry associations qualify for membership in the WSC, may become parties to the Joint
Statement.
Among the issues that the WSC covers are: open markets and free trade including via the internet;
intellectual property protection; year 2000; and environment, safety and health. SOURCE Semiconductor
Industry Association -0- 06/10/99 /CONTACT: Daven Oswalt, or Daryl Hatano of SIA, 408-436-6600/
/Web site: semichips.org CO: Semiconductor Industry Association; World Semiconductor
Council ST: Washington, Belgium, Japan, South Korea IN: CPR MLM SU: -0- Jun/10/1999 12:42 EOS
(PRN) Jun/10/99 12:42 ** -0- (PRN) Jun/10/1999 12:57 |
