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Tuesday 11 February 2025
China's Google antitrust probe risks potential tech sector blowback
China has opened an antitrust investigation into Google, in what analysts view as a retaliatory move against heightened US tariffs. While Google's presence in China is minimal, industry sources indicate that authorities seek to undermine Android's influence to bolster domestic brands like Huawei. However, the probe appears politically driven rather than market-driven, with potential fallout for China's tech industry
Tuesday 11 February 2025
Decoding Taiwan-US semiconductor trade ties (Part 3): why Taiwan and South Korea avoid tariff wars
As the Trump administration considers tariffs on semiconductors imported into the US, which country would be most affected, and to what extent
Monday 10 February 2025
Trump 2.0: Are his trade war tactics a masterstroke or empty threats?
Since Donald Trump's election to a second term as US president, global political and economic media have closely scrutinized his every word and action. However, many have observed that Trump often makes bold claims that the US cannot realistically fulfill. For example, he promised to end the Russia-Ukraine war within 24 hours and to have a direct phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping in the same timeframe, yet neither of which materialized
Monday 10 February 2025
Trump's surprise stance on DeepSeek: No security threat; Nvidia's CUDA moat hard to bypass
While the release of an open-source model by Chinese AI startup DeepSeek has been met with widespread acclaim in China, mainstream US media have responded with cautious scrutiny, raising concerns about potential privacy and national security risks. However, US President Donald Trump unexpectedly has taken a notably different stance on DeepSeek
Monday 10 February 2025
Apple makes manufacturing pivot: scales back Vietnam MacBook production, ramps up India operations
Apple is shifting its strategy by scaling back its plans to expand MacBook production in Vietnam, which was expected to ramp up in late 2024. This marks a departure from its earlier aggressive expansion approach and contrasts with its growing manufacturing focus in India, which is becoming more central to Apple's production plans
Monday 10 February 2025
Decoding Taiwan-US semiconductor trade ties (Part 2): TSMC's fast track to US 2nm production
In 2025, Taiwan's total export value reached US$475.07 billion—its second-best performance since 2022. Over the past two years, amid the US-China trade war, the semiconductor industry's market leadership has shifted from tech giants like Microsoft, Apple, Nvidia, and HP to the US government. The administration's rapid and ever-changing tariff policies now threaten to leave manufacturers scrambling
Saturday 8 February 2025
Decoding Taiwan-US semiconductor trade ties (Part 1): what Taiwan's export mix reveals
In 2024, Taiwan's total exports reached US$475 billion, with 65.2% of that coming from electronics. This clearly shows that the electronics sector not only drives Taiwan's export momentum but also significantly influences shifts in the overall export structure
Thursday 6 February 2025
Will automakers weather the tariff storm?
Amid successive tariff measures imposed by the US and Chinese governments, automakers are grappling with challenges on multiple fronts
Wednesday 5 February 2025
Evolution of the submarine: From traditional to digital age
Submarine technology has evolved dramatically with the advancement of technology, transforming naval tactics and global maritime security. From the first US Navy submarine, the USS Holland (SS-1), commissioned in 1900, to modern nuclear-powered submarines equipped with artificial intelligence (AI), the development of submarines has reshaped military operations and strategic maritime initiatives worldwide
Tuesday 4 February 2025
Trump 2.0 charts new course for US AI policy
In a bold reset of America's artificial intelligence strategy, President Trump has begun dismantling the regulatory framework of the previous administration, while simultaneously launching one of the most ambitious AI initiatives in US history. His first move: was revoking Executive Order 14110 on AI policy, while keeping intact the more recent Executive Orders 14141 (2025 AI Infrastructure EO) and 14144 (2025 Cybersecurity EO)
Tuesday 4 February 2025
If Taiwan can't offset Trump's policies, trade and investment may slow
Amid US President Donald Trump's new wave of protectionist policies, Taiwan must reexamine how to deepen its mutually beneficial trade partnership with the US
Monday 3 February 2025
Trump 2.0 prospects: tariffs spark potential three-way supply chain realignment
President Trump's administration has escalated trade tensions since taking office, implementing a 25% tariff on goods from Canada and Mexico and a 10% tariff on Chinese imports since February 1, 2025. The administration is considering additional tariffs targeting semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, steel, aluminum, copper, and oil and gas by mid-February. Potential tariff measures against the European Union are also under consideration
Friday 31 January 2025
DeepSeek's disruption: what it means for TSMC and the AI supply chain
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is an unstoppable trend. The US will remain strong, not just with OpenAI. Since DeepSeek has broken through the existing frameworks of Chinese enterprises and operates on an open-source model, there will likely be others in the US who will follow suit
Thursday 30 January 2025
EMS watch: top-down observation on supply chain
The global tech landscape has undergone significant transformation since the COVID-19 outbreak in 2019. Government subsidies totaling US$17 trillion, combined with the surge in remote work, have propelled tech giants to unprecedented heights. Currently, nine tech companies have achieved market valuations exceeding US$1 trillion. Including TSMC, these companies command a combined market value of US$18 trillion, demonstrating the concentrated wealth accumulation among select tech giants. This concentration of capital has created opportunities for companies within their supply chains to capture value
Thursday 30 January 2025
Taiwan's mature chip makers need their own major league
Recent US Section 301 tariffs targeting China's semiconductor industry have spotlighted the mature process segment. While the definition of mature processes remains somewhat fluid, it generally encompasses nodes of 15nm and above that Chinese manufacturers can produce, though some definitions extend to 7nm