Samsung and SK Hynix reportedly plan to omit details when providing data to the U.S.

According to foreign media reports, Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix plan to omit detailed information when providing data related to the global chip shortage to the United States in order to protect trade secrets, according to two sources.

The chip shortage problem has become the main theme of the semiconductor industry since the second half of 2020. Today, the chip shortage problem is intensifying due to rising costs and labor shortages.

In September this year, the US Department of Commerce asked major chip companies and automakers to "voluntarily" share business information to respond to the global chip crisis.

The U.S. Department of Commerce asked several chipmakers, including Samsung Electronics and Intel, to comment on inventory, backlogs, delivery times, procurement practices and what measures they are taking to increase production. It also asked them to provide information on the main customers of each product.

If they don’t respond, the Commerce Department said, the White House could invoke the Defense Production Act or other tools to force them to act.

The U.S. Department of Commerce reportedly set November 8, Eastern Time (Monday local time) as the deadline for chip companies to submit information.

Previously, South Korea's trade and finance ministries expressed concerns about the scope of U.S. requirements for semiconductor companies to disclose inventory levels, supply schedules, order volumes and procurement practices.

Last Sunday, South Korea's Ministry of Finance said that South Korean technology companies such as Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix are preparing to "voluntarily" submit some semiconductor information to the United States and have been negotiating with the United States on the scope of the submitted data.

As of last Sunday, 57 organizations, including global chip suppliers and universities, had submitted supply chain information to the U.S. Department of Commerce before Monday's deadline, including TSMC, Micron and Tower Semiconductor.