CONNECT WITH US
Wednesday 6 November 2024
To split or not to split: Intel's dilemma has no clear-cut solution
Intel is grappling with an operational crisis as its IDM 2.0 transformation plan has yet to yield results, casting doubt on when its foundry business might finally become profitable. This raises the question of whether Intel should consider abandoning its IDM model and separating its product design and manufacturing divisions—a move with both potential advantages and drawbacks. Industry leaders, including former board members, are offering advice in hopes of helping Intel find a viable path forward. However, the conflicting nature of their advice highlights the complexity of the company's dilemma
LATEST STORIES
Friday 4 July 2025
US-Vietnam tariff deal narrows gap, but transshipment rules remain a black box
US President Donald Trump has confirmed a preliminary tariff framework with Vietnam that lowers duties on Vietnamese exports to the US from 46% to 20%. However, the deal includes a separate 40% tariff on transshipped goods routed through Vietnam from other countries. In return, Vietnam will eliminate all tariffs on US imports, granting American products full access to its market
Friday 4 July 2025
China-India rivalry forces Foxconn to rethink manpower strategy
As 2025 begins under President Donald Trump's second term, rising trade tensions and tariffs are pushing regionalized manufacturing. In this context, Foxconn is reportedly recalling Chinese engineers from its Indian operations, highlighting the complex China-India dynamics shaping global industry
Thursday 3 July 2025
Details of the US-China trade agreement remain unclear, with no consensus on rare earths and chip controls
On June 26, 2025, US President Donald Trump announced that the US had signed a trade agreement with China on June 25, which was also confirmed by China's Ministry of Commerce. From the talks in Geneva on May 11 to negotiations in London on June 10, followed by Trump's recent announcement, what exactly have the two countries agreed upon
Wednesday 2 July 2025
Wolfspeed bankruptcy reshuffles SiC supply chain: Renesas and SAS next moves in spotlight
The leading third-generation semiconductor silicon carbide (SiC) supplier, US-based Wolfspeed, has filed for bankruptcy reorganization. Its major creditors recently reached a restructuring support agreement (RSA) acknowledging losses
Monday 30 June 2025
From subsidies to subtraction: Lip-bu Tan rewrites Intel’s revival playbook
The semiconductor industry rarely sees such a stark contrast in leadership philosophy as the one emerging between Intel's current and former CEOs. Pat Gelsinger, who recently stepped down after failing to engineer Intel's revival, now offers strategic advice to Japan's Rapidus on challenging TSMC. Meanwhile, his successor, Lip-Bu Tan, has wasted no time in his emergency appointment, announcing significant layoffs just three months into his tenure
Thursday 26 June 2025
Trump launches strike on Iran, signals no letup in tariff policy
As the deadline for President Trump's tariff deferrals approaches on July 9, global attention shifts to the G7 summit in Canada, where leaders are pressing the US to roll back its trade restrictions. However, in a dramatic turn of events, Trump cut his participation short, citing more urgent matters back home. On the evening of June 21, Trump ordered seven B-2 bombers to strike Iran's underground nuclear facilities, signaling a significant escalation in US military engagement in the region
Tuesday 24 June 2025
Taiwan tech supply chains brace for tariff deadline amid currency headwinds
Taiwan's IT supply chain faces mounting pressures as the July 9 expiration of a 90-day reciprocal tariff grace period approaches. The New Taiwan dollar's sharp appreciation has already squeezed margins for export-focused manufacturers in May and June, with industry observers warning that first-half earnings may disappoint while traditional peak-season demand could weaken due to earlier front-loading by cautious customers
Saturday 21 June 2025
What Ren Zhengfei didn’t say—lessons for Taiwan’s tech playbook
In a rare and insightful interview with People's Daily, Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei shared his perspective under the headline "The More Open a Country Is, the More It Advances."
Thursday 19 June 2025
Singapore and Johor try again: new special zone revives old economic dream
The grand trend of history is that unity follows division, and division leads to unity again—this perfectly applies to Johor and Singapore
Wednesday 18 June 2025
Commentary: Taiwan AI bill under question amid legislative and industry discord
Taiwan's parliament stalled the proposed "AI Basic Law" due to a lack of consensus, prompting calls for the suspension of efforts to achieve comprehensive legislation until there is a clearer picture of the fast-growing AI market
Wednesday 18 June 2025
NVLink stays gated; UALink, ASIC contenders step up
Nvidia's selective opening of its NVLink interconnect technologies to partners is drawing scrutiny from across the semiconductor supply chain. While pitched as a collaborative gesture, industry insiders still view the move as too limited and may potentially accelerate the momentum of rival standards like UALink and prompting hyperscalers and chipmakers to double down on developing custom AI chips (ASICs) to lessen their reliance on Nvidia's tightly controlled ecosystem
Wednesday 18 June 2025
AI without borders: Singapore moves from infrastructure to influence
The release of ChatGPT in November 2022 sparked a global AI renaissance, compelling governments everywhere to embrace artificial intelligence for both public benefit and economic growth. In Singapore's case, the AI landscape reveals a strategic pivot: while hardware manufacturing remains a weak link, the city-state has emerged as a stronghold for data center infrastructure and AI-driven applications
Tuesday 17 June 2025
Foxconn formalizes leadership succession, embraces institutionalized executive model
Leadership succession has become an inescapable issue for Taiwan's corporate giants. At Foxconn, the world's largest electronics manufacturer, the spotlight has shifted from pure technological transformation to a more deliberate and strategic recalibration of executive leadership
Thursday 12 June 2025
Trump's tariff reversals roil global markets, but Taiwan finds unexpected gains
Since returning to the office, President Donald Trump has once again made unpredictability a cornerstone of US trade policy. His shifting stance on tariffs, particularly toward China, has sent tremors through global supply chains. And yet, amid the turbulence, Taiwan has managed not only to hold its ground but also to benefit unexpectedly from the chaos
Thursday 12 June 2025
Trump’s tariff playbook faces legal and political scrutiny
Nearly five months into his second term, President Donald Trump's high-wire approach to trade—defined by maximalist threats followed by strategic retreats—has once again put global markets and foreign capitals on edge. Critics and foreign media have taken to calling the strategy "TACO"—short for "Trump Always Chickens Out"—a jab at what they see as erratic tariff brinkmanship that ends in concessions