World Semiconductor Council aims to reduce energy, water, waste resources; wants zero tariff semi trade

The WSC represents the world's major semiconductor industry associations from the US, Japan, Europe, Korea, China and Chinese Taipei.

By Ann Steffora Mutschler, Senior Editor -- Electronic News, 5/23/2008

Concluding its twelfth successful annual meeting today in Taipei, Taiwan, the World Semiconductor Council (WSC) established what it said is a wide-ranging set of recommendations for expanding global trade in semiconductors and electronic products, enhancing intellectual property protections and supporting strong environment, safety and health practices.

The WSC represents the world’s major semiconductor industry associations from the US, Japan, Europe, Korea, China and Chinese Taipei.

Since counterfeit semiconductors have a much larger impact than many other fake goods because of the likelihood that they will damage the end systems in which they are incorporated, the WSC is working to promote IP protection including assisting government efforts to seize counterfeit semiconductors and improving patent quality.

SIA president George Scalise reminded that the WSC has driven the adoption of very aggressive targets for reductions in energy and water usage, and waste discharges – with average industry-wide expected reductions from 30 to 45% from 2001-2010. “Achieving these reductions requires a joint commitment to invest in the most advanced and environmentally advanced technologies and practices,” he said in a statement. The WSC also made progress in reducing or eliminating emissions of PFCs and usage of PFOS chemicals.

Further, the WSC is committed to zero tariff trade in semiconductors and the end products in which they are incorporated, Scalise continued. “As technology evolves, maintaining zero tariff treatment for these products gets more and more challenging – the WSC is leading the effort to ensure that the next generation of products, including multi-component ICs, aren’t hindered by tariffs or other barriers to trade,” he said. The WSC stressed the importance of concluding a successful Doha Round of multilateral trade negotiations for free trade in semiconductors and electronic products around the world in an era of increasingly diversified geographic demand.

The WSC noted its objection not only to tariffs, but to copyright levies imposed on information technology products.

“Levies are, in effect, the Moore’s Law of taxation – increasing fees on technology products at the point of sale as memory capacity increases. The WSC strongly supports protecting copyright holders when their rights have been violated – but copyright levies are the equivalent of imposing a speeding ticket when you buy a new car, assuming there will be violations that haven’t yet occurred. Sales prices for 512 Mb DRAM fell about 70% over the last year, but levies can have the effect of wiping out much of this cost saving to the consumer,” Scalise added.

Finally, the WSC encouraged their governments and authorities to support the UN Millennium Development Goal of expanding the benefits of new technologies in furtherance of efforts to eradicate poverty, and improve education, environmental sustainability and health care.

The 12th WSC joint statement can be found on the SIA’s website.