Tech war: Taipei requests to join hearing over Beijing’s complaint against US chip controls at World Trade Organization

Taiwan has filed a formal request to the World Trade Organization (WTO) to join mainland China’s dispute hearings against US chip export controls, according to a statement issued on Thursday by the island’s delegation to the Geneva-based trade body.

China last month filed a complaint with the WTO about US chip export restrictions, in a show of displeasure at measures taken by Washington to restrict the country’s access to advanced chips as well as related US-origin technologies and equipment.

Taiwan, the self-ruled island that China regards as a renegade province, said it has “a high trade interest in knowing how the dispute will affect the supply and demand of the semiconductor products in our bilateral trade and in the world market”, without showing a preference for mainland China or the United States in the dispute.

Taiwan, officially known as the “separate customs territory of Taiwan, Pinghu, Kinmen and Matsu”, requests to join the consultation and to be informed by “time and venue for these consultations”, according to the official request.

The island’s Office of Trade Negotiations said in a statement that it is applying to join the hearing as a third party and will not be taking sides in the dispute.