Harris holds Singapore talks as US tackles chip shortage

Vice President Kamala Harris urged greater international cooperation to bolster supply chains Tuesday during talks in Singapore, as the United States seeks to tackle a global microchip shortage.

The chip crunch was initially triggered by higher sales of consumer electronics during the coronavirus pandemic but has been exacerbated by supply chain problems caused by disruptions at key plants.

The auto sector has been hardest hit, with car giants including Volkswagen and Toyota cutting output, but manufacturers of smartphones and consoles have also warned of problems. 

Asia is the centre of the chip industry and during a visit to Singapore, Harris said in a meeting with officials and executives that the pandemic highlighted the vulnerability of global supply chains.