The U.S. temporary general license after it added Huawei to its entity list was “almost no relief” for America's semiconductor industry, which has been hurt severely by the move, said Semiconductor Industry Association CEO John Neuffer. At a Washington International Trade Association discussion last week, Neuffer underscored the importance of the Chinese market to U.S. semiconductor exporters and said the Trump administration should more tactfully negotiate with China. “We would like the U.S. government to better balance its national security concerns with its economic security concerns,” Neuffer said. He said there's an inaccurate perception chipmakers were aided by the Commerce Department Bureau of Industry and Security's temporary move (see 1905290036). “It leaves a major hole for us,” Neuffer said, noting Huawei is one of the “world’s biggest” telecom gear and cellphone providers. “There’s basically no reprieve.” If China’s expected June 1 tariff increase affects U.S. consumer goods including computers and cellphones, which had previously been kept off the tariff lists, Neuffer said his industry will suffer significant losses, partly because China is a large portion of that industry's export market. “Because they are our customers,” Neuffer said, “we will get hit and so will the American consumer.” Neuffer said any U.S.-China decoupling is a “folly,” and the Trump administration’s desire to bring all U.S. supply chains back to the U.S. is “not realistic.” The White House didn't comment Friday.

The U.S. temporary general license after it added Huawei to its entity list was “almost no relief” for America's semiconductor industry, which has been hurt severely by the move, said Semiconductor Industry Association CEO John Neuffer. At a Washington International Trade Association discussion last week, Neuffer underscored the importance of the Chinese market to U.S. semiconductor exporters and said the Trump administration should more tactfully negotiate with China. “We would like the U.S. government to better balance its national security concerns with its economic security concerns,” Neuffer said. He said there's an inaccurate perception chipmakers were aided by the Commerce Department Bureau of Industry and Security's temporary move (see 1905290036). “It leaves a major hole for us,” Neuffer said, noting Huawei is one of the “world’s biggest” telecom gear and cellphone providers. “There’s basically no reprieve.” If China’s expected June 1 tariff increase affects U.S. consumer goods including computers and cellphones, which had previously been kept off the tariff lists, Neuffer said his industry will suffer significant losses, partly because China is a large portion of that industry's export market. “Because they are our customers,” Neuffer said, “we will get hit and so will the American consumer.” Neuffer said any U.S.-China decoupling is a “folly,” and the Trump administration’s desire to bring all U.S. supply chains back to the U.S. is “not realistic.” The White House didn't comment Friday.

Satellite groups sought changes to export controls related to a Trump administration effort to revive the National Space Council, in comments that were due Friday. The Aerospace Industries Association asked the Commerce Department for more time before space-related export control regulations, to allow for "open discussions with the government." AIA lacks an "industry consensus" on multiple changes being considered. The association said a member-company asked that Commerce “evaluate” the list and “expand the list of parts and components that do not pose a threat to National Security and Regional Stability.”

The Aerospace Industries Association asked the Commerce Department for more time before it sets space-related export control regulations, in order to allow for its member companies to have "open discussions with the government," in comments filed in a Bureau of Industry and Security proposed rulemaking regarding the Commerce Control List for munitions. The trade group said it lacked an "industry consensus" on multiple changes being considered. The comments were solicited by State and Commerce after both requested public comments on a proposal for items listed on the U.S. Munitions List in categories IV and XV: launch vehicles and spacecraft. The proposal is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to revive the National Space Council and review space-related export controls (see 1904180014). Comments were due April 22

The U.S. government needs to take “ambitious policy action” to sustain and bolster its semiconductor leadership, said the Semiconductor Industry Association in a “blueprint” report Wednesday. It called for tripling U.S. investments in “semiconductor-specific research” across federal “scientific agencies” to $5 billion annually. That would “advance new materials, designs, and architectures that will exponentially increase chip performance,” it said. SIA wants federal agency investments to double in STEM fields “to spur leap-ahead innovations in semiconductor technology that will drive key technologies of the future, including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and advanced wireless networks.” Attracting and developing a “skilled workforce” is another key component. SIA wants a federal overhaul of the “high-skilled immigration system” by eliminating “counterproductive caps” on green cards so qualified graduates “can work, innovate, and contribute to U.S. leadership in the semiconductor industry and boost our economy.”

The U.S. government needs to take “ambitious policy action” to sustain and bolster its semiconductor leadership, said the Semiconductor Industry Association in a “blueprint” report Wednesday. It called for tripling U.S. investments in “semiconductor-specific research” across federal “scientific agencies” to $5 billion annually. That would “advance new materials, designs, and architectures that will exponentially increase chip performance,” it said. SIA wants federal agency investments to double in STEM fields “to spur leap-ahead innovations in semiconductor technology that will drive key technologies of the future, including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and advanced wireless networks.” Attracting and developing a “skilled workforce” is another key component. SIA wants a federal overhaul of the “high-skilled immigration system” by eliminating “counterproductive caps” on green cards so qualified graduates “can work, innovate, and contribute to U.S. leadership in the semiconductor industry and boost our economy.”

The U.S. government needs to take “ambitious policy action” to sustain and bolster its semiconductor leadership, said the Semiconductor Industry Association in a “blueprint” report Wednesday. It called for tripling U.S. investments in “semiconductor-specific research” across federal “scientific agencies” to $5 billion annually. That would “advance new materials, designs, and architectures that will exponentially increase chip performance,” it said. SIA wants federal agency investments to double in STEM fields “to spur leap-ahead innovations in semiconductor technology that will drive key technologies of the future, including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and advanced wireless networks.” Attracting and developing a “skilled workforce” is another key component. SIA wants a federal overhaul of the “high-skilled immigration system” by eliminating “counterproductive caps” on green cards so qualified graduates “can work, innovate, and contribute to U.S. leadership in the semiconductor industry and boost our economy.”

Global semiconductor shipments increased 14 percent in 2018 from the prior year to $468.8 billion, said the Semiconductor Industry Association Monday, "a new high" with "total units shipped topping 1 trillion for the first time.” China led in chip growth, monetary shipments there increasing 21 percent, said SIA, as the Americas jumped 16 percent. Apple remained the No. 2 and Samsung No. 1 semiconductor customers in 2018, with 17.9 percent total share, down 1.6 points from 2017, Gartner reported.

Global semiconductor shipments increased 14 percent in 2018 from the prior year to $468.8 billion, said the Semiconductor Industry Association Monday, "a new high" with "total units shipped topping 1 trillion for the first time.” China led in chip growth, monetary shipments there increasing 21 percent, said SIA, as the Americas jumped 16 percent. Apple remained the No. 2 and Samsung No. 1 semiconductor customers in 2018, with 17.9 percent total share, down 1.6 points from 2017, Gartner reported.

Global semiconductor shipments increased 13.7 percent in 2018 from 2017 to $468.8 billion, said the Semiconductor Industry Association Monday. Q4 shipments increased 0.6 percent to $114.7 billion, but declined 8.2 percent sequentially from Q3, said SIA. “Global demand for semiconductors reached a new high in 2018, with annual sales hitting a high-water mark and total units shipped topping 1 trillion for the first time.” Though market growth slowed in 2018's second half, the industry’s “long-term outlook remains strong,” it said. Memory was the industry’s largest 2018 category, sales growing 27.4 percent to $158 billion in 2018, including a 36.4 percent increase in shipments of DRAM products, it said. Despite the Chinese economic slowdown, China led all regions in semiconductor market growth, with monetary shipments there increasing 20.5 percent, said SIA. Shipments in the Americas jumped 16.4 percent, while Europe was up 12.1 percent, Japan 9.2 percent and Asia Pacific 6.1 percent. Apple and Samsung remained the world's top two semiconductor customers in 2018, with 17.9 percent collective total share, down 1.6 points from 2017, Gartner reported Monday. Huawei increased its chip spending by 45 percent, "jumping in front of Dell and Lenovo to the third spot," it said.