Press Release: Commission welcomes international agreement to boost trade in new generation of semiconductors

The European Commission on 28 March 2006 welcomed the signing of an international agreement which was to make it easier to trade in semi-conductors, a key component in many popular goods such as mobile phones, MP3-players, electronic devices in cars and personal organisers. The MCP Agreement was to eliminate customs duties and other charges on multi-chip integrated circuits among the main semiconductor trading nations and territories. Over the previous year, the European Commission had assumed a leading role in the negotiations towards the conclusion of this Agreement.