Taiwan is at work to address the global shortage of semiconductors, reported Economy Minister Wang Mei-hua after meeting with the newly appointed de facto U.S. ambassador in Taipei.

U.S. senators from Michigan and Ohio had asked the Taiwanese government for help to address the shortage that has shuttered automotive plants across the United States. The island is a major semiconductor producer and seen as central to efforts to resolve the problem.  

The top U.S. diplomat in Taiwan, Sandra Oudkirk, reportedly had raised concerns about the chip shortages during a meeting.

Wang said, “Taiwan is doing its best to assist on the chips,” and noted that MCU, or microcontroller units used for auto chips, production rose 60% in the first half of 2021 compared with the same period in 2020.

Global supply and demand for auto chips should reach a “balance” by the fourth quarter of 2021, reported Wang’s ministry, reiterating its commitment to doing its part to tackle the shortage that has closed production lines around the world.  

Last month, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd. (TSMC), the world’s largest contract chip maker, predicted the auto chip shortage will gradually ease for its customers after the third quarter, but added it expected overall semiconductor capacity tightness to extend into 2022.