ASEAN Holds the Key to Reducing US Dependence on Taiwan’s Chip Industry – The Diplomat

The last stage of the semiconductor supply chain, the assembly, packing, and testing (APT) process, has come to the forefront of the China-U.S. technology competition. The APT process is essential because it gives chips protection to ensure their commercial applications. Yet, today, the United States only has 3 percent of global APT capacity compared to Taiwan’s 58.6 percent. Amkor is the only major U.S.-headquartered firm specializing in APT operations, but it does not have assembly plants in North America. 

By contrast, among the top…