TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The US has sent government personnel to Taiwan to ensure local companies abide by American export controls on ICT giant Huawei and other blacklisted Chinese companies.

Last year, a regional export control officer was sent to Taiwan for the first time, Nikkei Asia reported. A senior official from the US Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security visited Taiwan earlier this year to guide tech companies on US export controls and compliance.

Nikkei Asia cited multiple sources as saying that representatives from companies including Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) and United Microelectronics Co. attended the courses.

TSMC said it has not supplied to Huawei since mid-September 2020. The company pledged to take "prompt action to ensure compliance," including conducting investigations and updating relevant parties if issues arise. 

The Department of Commerce asked TSMC for additional information after it suspected the semiconductor giant attempted to sidestep export curbs connected to Huawei.

Former Taiwan Minister of Economic Affairs Wang Mei-hua (王美花) said last November Taiwan and the US cooperate to ensure Taiwanese tech suppliers are familiar with US export control regulations.