US, Japan to cooperate on semiconductors as part of new economic dialogue

The United States and Japan launched a new high-level economic dialogue on Friday aimed at pushing back against China and countering the disruption caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The two long-time allies agreed to establish a new joint research centre for next-generation semiconductors during the so-called economic "two-plus-two" ministerial meeting in Washington, Japanese Trade Minister Koichi Hagiuda said.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and Hagiuda also discussed energy and food security, the officials said in a news briefing.

"As the world's first- and third-largest economies, it is critical that we work together to defend the rules-based economic order, one in which all countries can participate, compete and prosper," Blinken told the opening session.

Blinken said recent world events, including the Covid-19 pandemic and war in Ukraine, had shown the vulnerability of critical supply chains, while a growing number of countries were struggling with debt burdens due to unsustainable and non-transparent lending practices.

"The coercive and retaliatory economic practices of the People's Republic of China force countries into choices that compromise their security, their intellectual property, their economic independence," he said.

Japan's Hayashi called Russia's invasion of Ukraine a serious challenge to the international order and - in an apparent reference to China, though he did not name it directly - referred to attempts "to use economic influence unfairly and opaquely to realise ... strategic interests and to modify the existing international order."

SEMICONDUCTORS

Hagiuda said "Japan will quickly move to action" on next-generation semiconductor research and said Washington and Tokyo had agreed to launch a "new R&D organisation" to establish a secure source of the vital components.

The research hub would be open for other "like-minded" countries to participate in, he said.

The two countries did not immediately release additional details of the plan, but Japan's Nikkei Shimbun newspaper earlier said it would be set up in Japan by the end of this year to research 2-nanometer semiconductor chips. It will include a prototype production line and should begin producing semiconductors by 2025, the newspaper said.

"As we discussed today, semiconductors are the linchpin of our economic and national security," said Raimondo, adding that the officials had discussed collaboration on semiconductors, "especially with respect to advanced semiconductors."

Taiwan now makes the vast majority of semiconductors under 10 nanometers, which are used in products such as smartphones, and there is concern about the stability of supply should trouble arise involving Taiwan and China, which views the island as a renegade province.

The United States and Japan said in a joint statement they would work together "to foster supply chain resilience in strategic sectors, including, in particular, semiconductors, batteries, and critical minerals." They vowed to "build a strong battery supply chain to lead collaboration between like-minded countries."

On ties with Russia, Hagiuda said he gained US understanding about Japan's intention to keep its stake in the Sakhalin-2 oil and gas project despite sanctions against Moscow by Washington, Tokyo and others following the Ukraine invasion.

"There are voices calling for withdrawal. But it would mean our stake goes to a third country and Russia earns an enormous profit. We explained how keeping our stake is in line with sanctions, and I believe we gained US understanding," he said.

Japanese trading houses Mitsui & Co and Mitsubishi Corp hold a combined 22.5% stake in the project.

Friday's meeting came at a time of heightened tensions over Taiwan.

On Thursday, Chinese leader Xi Jinping warned in a call with US President Joe Biden against playing with fire over Taiwan, highlighting Beijing's concerns about a possible visit to the Chinese-claimed island by US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi. 

The US House passed sweeping legislation on Thursday to subsidise the domestic semiconductor industry as it competes with Chinese and other foreign manufacturers.