Commerce Seeks Data for Chips ‘Early Alert System’

The Commerce Department asks chip companies to “voluntarily share information” about any new or ongoing COVID-19-related shutdowns or disruptions in the supply chain as part of an “early alert system” to better manage semiconductor bottlenecks and breakdowns, said the agency Monday. “The information gathered will be used to assess potential disruptions, enhance engagement with foreign governments as appropriate, and work to safely reopen these critical microelectronics and semiconductor facilities.” Early alerts will generate information the interagency Supply Chain Disruption Task Force “can consider in proactively minimizing real-time semiconductor supply chain disruptions” linked to the pandemic, it said. The White House previewed the early alert system last week (see 2109260002).