Amid China, tariff talk WSC makes green pledge

LONDON — The world's leading semiconductor industry associations concluded the 10th anniversary meeting of the World Semiconductor Council (WSC) in San Francisco Thursday (May 11) with a set of recommendations that spanned tariffs, free trade as well as improving environmental and health and safety practices in the microchip industry.

A joint statement of the WSC — which represents the semiconductor industry associations of Europe, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and the United States — applauded recent agreements to eliminate tariffs on multichip semiconductor packages and supported efforts to work toward elimination of remaining tariffs. Also on the “green” environmental front the WSC endorsed partnerships being set up to develop best practice for energy saving during chip manufacture.

At the same time the WSC criticized a growing trend in certain countries to collect so-called 'copyright levies' that raise the cost to consumers of digital media and digital equipment.

Adding detail to its environmental charter the WSC pledged elimination of the “non-critical” use of process chemicals containing perfluoroctane sulfonate (PFOS) and to cooperate in finding acceptable substitute chemicals for critical processes

The WSC also reiterated its goal of expanding membership to include the semiconductor industry associations of countries or regions with a major presence and importance in the world semiconductor industry. The WSC reiterated its willingness to welcome the China Semiconductor Industry Association as a member of the WSC, a step that would require the support of the government of the People's Republic of China.

“The World Semiconductor Council once again demonstrated the value and effectiveness of international collaboration and cooperation to promote free and fair trade, expand the markets for information technology, and improve environmental, health and safety practices throughout the industry,” said Brian Halla, chairman and chief executive officer of National Semiconductor Corp. and 2006 chairman of the U.S. Semiconductor Industry Association. The SIA hosted this year's WSC meeting and Halla presided over the group's sessions.

The complete Joint Statement of the 10th Anniversary Meeting of the World Semiconductor Council is available on the SIA website at http://www.sia-online.org/downloads/wsc_jt_statement_may06.pdf .