Delegates of the US Semiconductor Industry Association made little progress in the latest attempt to convince the European Community to drop its restrictions on imported semiconductors. According to the US Association spokesman Thomas Beermann, discussions held in Brussels last week reveal that there is more chance of peace in the Middle East than finding a common position with European component manufacturers who include Philips NV, SGS-Thomson Microelectronics NV and Siemens AG. Philips, SGS-Thomson and Siemens argue that a 14% tariff is necessary to level the playing field against foreign imports and reject the claim that this protective measure makes them less competitive. Talks held earlier in the week with members of the European Commission’s DG IV Competition directorate and the DG XIII telecommunications and information tech nology branch, suggested that the Commission was generally supportive of the US association’s posit ion. However Beermann claimed it is unwilling to change its position before US and European manufacturers come to an agreement of their own accord.
