TAIPEI – Taiwan’s Economy Minister Wang Mei-hua said on Saturday that she had received a letter from the White House about the global shortage of auto chips and Taiwanese semiconductor companies are “doing what they should” to address the problem.
Tight chip stocks have caused problems worldwide for car manufacturers, who in some cases have to throttle production.
This week, Brian Deese, chief economic adviser to US President Joe Biden, thanked Wang for her efforts to resolve the deficit in consultation with the island’s manufacturers.
Wang told reporters that she received the letter Friday night, adding that she had previously met with local chip manufacturers on the matter, referring to meetings she has held in recent weeks.
“In the future, manufacturers are doing what they should be doing,” she said.
This is an issue facing automakers around the world, including in the United States, Japan and Europe, and Taiwan is a major supplier, Wang added.
“We help as much as we can,” she said.
The shortage affects Volkswagen, Ford, Subaru, Toyota, Nissan, Stellantis (formerly Fiat Chrysler Automobiles), and other car manufacturers.
Chip manufacturers, including Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC), the world’s largest contract chip manufacturer, have pledged to prioritize production.
The issue has become a diplomatic one. In addition to the letter from the United States, the German Minister of Economy has also asked Wang for help.