Joyce Lee and Heekyong Yan

SEOUL (Reuters – Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix intend to not provide Washington any details regarding the global chip shortage. This is because they wish to keep trade secrets confidential, according to sources.

South Korean memory chip makers are the two largest in the world. The U.S. has requested information from these companies to better understand why auto production has been severely curtailed. The deadline to submit the information is Nov. 8.

However, the Commerce Department stated that it could make responses compulsory depending on how many or quality of those who respond.

Sources say that the U.S. Data Request is so extensive that it is possible to leak the entire information. If this happens, it will undermine competition and allow clients to pick one particular chipmaker.

South Korea’s Industry Minister Moon Sung-wook is set to discuss the issue with Gina Raimondo, Secretary of Commerce when they meet next week on their trip to Washington.

A source in the industry said that the request includes 26 topics seeking information on inventory, orders and sales. These questions range from the “everyday” level to more strategic areas, such as capacity increases plans, top three customers and the contribution of those customers to product sales.

According to a Commerce Department spokesperson, SK Hynix indicated last month it intends to provide data very readily.

Samsung (KS-H) and SK Hynix both previously indicated that they are currently reviewing the matter internally. They did not respond to Friday’s request for comment.

According to one source, memory chipmakers will lose more than made-to-order manufacturers if prices and inventory information are leaked.

Global chip shortage is mainly caused by made-to order chips, but there are sufficient memory chips. SK Hynix produces almost all its semiconductor output from memory chips. Samsung is world number one. It is also the No. 2 contract manufacturer of chip manufacturers, although almost all of its earnings come from memory chips.

Kim Young-woo was an analyst at SK Securities and isn’t associated with SK Hynix. She said South Korean firms are unlikely to share client information.

He said that giving Chinese customers information to the U.S. could raise concerns about geopolitical risk.

Public records reveal that thirteen entities, including Taiwan’s ASE Technology Holding (a division of Israel’s), have submitted data to Commerce Department. Tower Semiconductor (NASDAQ)

ASE left many columns unfilled and attached a datasheet that could not be accessed by the public. Tower Semiconductor, however, did not name clients, but only describe customer industries.

Taiwan’s TSMC stated that it would not release any confidential company information to comply with the U.S. requests.