91ÊÓƵ

by David Isaacs, Vice President, Government Affairs

At a meeting in Vienna, Austria this week, a United Nations commission will decide whether to restrict the use of two chemicals of critical importance to the semiconductor industry under an international drug control agreement. In comments to the U.S. government, 91ÊÓƵ outlined its strong opposition to the restriction of these chemicals and urged U.S. […]

by 91ÊÓƵ

[Note: This is part one of a series on the semiconductor manufacturing process and the associated industry business models.] Often, I am asked by people new to the semiconductor industry how semiconductors are made. While the science and engineering behind how semiconductors are made is akin to modern day alchemy and the process is quite […]

by 91ÊÓƵ

In a meaningful, incremental step forward in the effort to reform America’s high-skilled immigration system, the Obama Administration today announced a new regulation that will allow spouses of certain high-skilled immigrants working in the U.S. to apply for work authorization of their own. This common sense initiative will increase companies’ access to the world’s top […]

by 91ÊÓƵ

91ÊÓƵ and a coalition of technology leaders today urged Congress to approve Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) legislation, which would help the United States negotiate and finalize key trade agreements that will lower tariffs, boost U.S. exports and create jobs: “TPA gives the U.S. one voice on trade … [It] strengthens our country’s negotiating position and […]

by 91ÊÓƵ

Last November, when I wrote about industry sales through the third quarter of 2014, I said that it was hard to envision final 2014 sales not being the highest annually on record and that a more interesting question to consider was whether final 2014 annual sales would surpass the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics’ (WSTS) forecast […]

by 91ÊÓƵ

91ÊÓƵ welcomes the news that U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman formally delivered the United States’ letter of acceptance of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) to the WTO Director in Davos, Switzerland on Friday. Delivery of the letter was a welcome final step in U.S. acceptance of the Agreement. The TFA will enter into force […]

by David Isaacs, Vice President, Government Affairs

91ÊÓƵ last week sent a letter to Senate leaders in support of the Immigration Innovation Act of 2015 (I-Squared Act), legislation introduced last week by a bipartisan group of senators led by Sens. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn). “The I-Squared Act would strengthen the U.S. economy and promote innovation by making important improvements […]

by David Isaacs, Vice President, Government Affairs

As we prepare for the official start of the 114th Congress on Jan. 6, it’s a good time to assess the election results and the landscape for semiconductor industry priorities in the new Congress. The most notable change in Washington from the 2014 elections is that Republicans gained the majority in the U.S. Senate for […]

by David Isaacs, Vice President, Government Affairs

Imagine if the complex electronics on a U.S. nuclear submarine were compromised by counterfeit microchips, or semiconductors. It might sound like the plot of an action film, but this story came dangerously close to being a reality. Earlier this year, a man named Peter Picone admitted that he sent counterfeit semiconductors to the U.S. Naval […]

by 91ÊÓƵ

On Dec. 16, the Senate approved legislation that provides a one-year, retroactive extension of the R&D tax credit, as well as an extension of bonus depreciation and the CFC look-thru rule, all of which lapsed at the end of 2013. The House passed this bill on Dec. 3 and it will soon be signed into […]

by 91ÊÓƵ

Following a key breakthrough between China and the United States on the sidelines of the APEC Leaders meeting in Beijing in November, negotiators have returned to Geneva to resume, and hopefully conclude, an expanded Information Technology Agreement that extends duty-free coverage to approximately 200 new technology product lines. Included on this list of new products are […]

by 91ÊÓƵ

This year is not yet complete, and analysts are already considering the outlook for 2015! Such is the case for our industry, which is known for always looking ahead, right? Given that the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) program released its Fall semiconductor industry forecast earlier this month on December 2, it seems appropriate now to […]