The White House says that Taiwan is ‘an important partner of the United States’ in solving the global shortage of semiconductors. That was the word from National Security Council official Peter Harrell on Monday. The comments came before President Joe Biden signed an executive order to address supply chain issues in key industries.
Companies around the world are currently suffering from a severe shortage of semiconductor chips. Several car manufacturers have slowed or halted production due to the shortage, forcing countries like the US and Germany to turn to Taiwan for help. Taiwan is home to TSMC, the world’s largest chip foundry.
Biden’s new executive order kicks off a 100-day review aimed at alleviating shortages of semiconductors, electric car batteries, rare earth minerals, and medicine. The US currently relies heavily on countries like Taiwan and China to supply many of those products. In the long term, the White House hopes that the US can be more self-sufficient.
During a press briefing, White House official Peter Harrell responded to a question on recent talks between the US and Taiwan. He says talks between the two countries were “constructive”, but that he cannot comment further. That comes a day after White House advisor Brian Deese wrote to Taiwan’s economics minister thanking her for Taiwan’s help addressing the semiconductor shortage.