Japan Offers Plan on Chip Market Access

Japan’s microchip makers Tuesday unveiled a plan calling for closer ties with U.S. suppliers to improve foreign access to the Japanese market.

The proposal, Japan’s first concerted response after the collapse of talks with the U.S. Semiconductor Industry Assn. in June, outlines specific steps aimed at boosting the access of foreign firms to the Japanese market.

But it represents no change in the Electronic Industry Assn. of Japan’s stance that its goal remains only improved market access, not greater market share, for American firms. Disagreement over this point caused the June talks to fail.

“The EIAJ Users Committee is confident that foreign market access will improve steadily as this action plan is put into practice,” Iwao Ojima, association president, told reporters.

“However, it is also absolutely necessary that both users and foreign semiconductor suppliers mutually cooperate toward this goal for the plan to yield positive results,” he said.

The plan, worked out over two months, suggests that Japanese and American firms regularly exchange information and executives build long-term relationships. It also says companies should appoint individuals to promote “design in cooperation,” the involvement of foreign firms from the design stage.

The committee agreed to promote foreign access to consumer electronics and automotive industries, which foreign firms have had trouble penetrating. It plans to gain the cooperation of the Japan Autoparts Industries Assn., Ojima said.

The plan asks for the Semiconductor Industry Assn. to help by reinforcing its staff in Tokyo and making more information available in Japanese.

Ojima said that with SIA cooperation the plan would improve foreign makers’ access to Japan’s market and enhance market share.