SiCarrier, once a little-known name in China's chip sector, has jolted the semiconductor industry with bold claims of breakthroughs in photolithography—a field long ruled by global leaders like ASML. At SEMICON China, the company touted five major platforms and pitched its technology as rivaling top-tier international equipment, positioning itself as a new force in China's drive for chipmaking self-sufficiency

Apple CEO Tim Cook committed to bringing manufacturing back to the US with a US$500 billion investment. Yet, this move seemingly failed to earn Apple any exemption from tariffs. On April 2, US President Donald Trump imposed high tariffs ranging from 26% to 54% on China, India, and Vietnam, all major Apple production bases

In late March 2025, Kumamoto Prefecture unveiled the Kumamoto Science Park Promotion Vision, a plan to build a semiconductor-centered science park alongside a broader innovation ecosystem. The initiative seeks to establish a public-private industrial base that promotes collaboration among semiconductor companies, research institutions, and advanced tech firms

The US has intensified tariffs on Chinese lithium battery materials, beginning with the Inflation Reduction Act under the Biden administration and continuing with President Trump's reciprocal tariffs. With combined tax rates now exceeding 80% for Chinese exports to the US, the global supply chain landscape is shifting dramatically

TCL has finalized its acquisition of LG Display's LCD manufacturing plant in Guangzhou, China, officially renaming it "T11" under the management of its subsidiary, TCL China Star Optoelectronics (TCL CSOT). Production at the facility is already underway, strengthening TCL's position in the global display market

The Sino-US trade war has accelerated global competition in compound semiconductors, with Chinese manufacturers now aggressively targeting price reductions in silicon carbide (SiC) substrates. According to industry reports, mainland Chinese producers aim to slash 8-inch SiC substrate prices by half by 2025, potentially dropping to around US$700 per piece from the current US$1,500

The US is the world's largest economy, and following Donald Trump's inauguration in January 2025, there have been significant changes across various policies, including trade, domestic affairs, foreign relations, and research funding. Even during Joe Biden's administration, Taiwanese companies were compelled to take sides due to the US's efforts to contain China's technological development. The proportion of Taiwan's investment in China has dropped from 83.8% in 2010 to just 8% by 2024, with little chance of reversal in the coming years

Just when the global supply chain thought it had a breather, US President Donald Trump's administration is stoking renewed tensions with China by threatening sweeping new tariffs. Beijing has retaliated with equal force, rolling out a 34% "reciprocal tariff" package. Strategic sectors—including semiconductors and pharmaceuticals—may soon be in the crosshairs

These are the most-read DIGITIMES Asia stories from the week of March 31 – April 5. From sweeping US tariff hikes to strategic moves by major tech players, here's a quick look at the headlines that captured industry attention

Since introducing the world's first commercially available collaborative robot in 2005, Universal Robots (UR) has continuously advanced product design, automation technology, and AI integration. EEWorld reports the company shipped its 50,000th unit by late 2020 and crossed the 75,000 mark by mid-2023, reflecting accelerated momentum in the global cobot market

Over the past fifty years, China has driven its national progress through two key forces: economic growth and nationalism. Its rapid economic expansion has not only reshaped Chinese society but also played a crucial role in global economic development. Between 2009 and 2019, the world's total GDP grew from US$61 trillion to US$88 trillion, with China contributing a third of that US$27 trillion increase. This era was both China's "golden decade" and a time when the international community heavily relied on its economic engine

President Donald Trump is imposing tariffs on US trading partners worldwide, his biggest assault yet on a global economic system he has long bemoaned as unfair.
Trump said Wednesday he will apply a minimum 10% tariff on all exporters to the US and slap additional duties on around 60 nations with the largest trade imbalances with the US. That includes substantially higher rates on some of the country's biggest trading partners, such as China — which now faces a tariff of at least 54% on many goods — the European Union and Vietnam

As Apple accelerates efforts to diversify its iPhone component supply chain, LG Group's component subsidiaries are monitoring market developments closely. While LG Display (LGD) and LG Innotek maintain significant positions in Apple's display and camera module supply chains, Chinese vendors are rapidly gaining ground, challenging South Korea's long-standing dominance

A quiet revolution is reshaping the future of global manufacturing, with robotics technology at its center. In this unfolding race, the US and its Western allies are increasingly wary of China's potential to take the lead

As Tesla and Huawei continue to dominate headlines in China's autonomous driving race, another player is quietly reshaping the landscape. Founded in 2016, Momenta has captured more than 60% of China's urban Navigation on Autopilot (NOA) market for third-party suppliers, according to Xinhua News Agency. In a field crowded with tech giants and cash-burning startups, this stealth-mode contender has rapidly become a pivotal force in China's smart mobility sector