US, Japan to Create Chips Supply Chain Working Group, Reports Nikkei

The U.S. and Japan plan to set up a working group on securing supply chains for strategic technologies, including semiconductors, reported Nikkei Asia Thursday. The countries will likely agree to terms on the project -- including R&D cooperation and production of strategic technology components -- when Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and President Joe Biden meet in Washington later this month, the report said. The White House didn’t respond to questions Friday. Comments are due Monday at the Bureau of Industry and Security to help shape Commerce Department policy recommendations to the White House on Biden’s Feb. 24 executive order to relieve bottlenecks in the semiconductor supply chain (see 2103110054).