As the European Union and China prepare to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations with a high-level summit in Beijing at the end of July 2025, the atmosphere behind closed doors is far from festive. The main issue at hand is the tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs), which have become a contentious point in the increasingly complex trade relationship between the EU and China

Samsung Electronics is accelerating efforts to localize the production of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) blank masks in South Korea through a collaboration with domestic partner S&S Tech. The goal is to pass final quality certification by the second half of 2025, marking a critical milestone in South Korea's push for greater self-sufficiency in next-generation semiconductor materials

ASML reported robust second-quarter earnings, with sales rising 23% year-over-year to EUR7.69 billion (US$8.94 billion), driven by upgrade demand and cost efficiencies. While tariff impacts were milder than expected, the company remains restricted from selling its top-tier EUV tools to China, despite signs of easing geopolitical tensions and renewed chip shipments by US rivals

US President Donald Trump announced a new trade agreement with Indonesia on Tuesday, establishing a 19% tariff on goods imported from the Southeast Asian nation into the United States. This rate represents a significant reduction from an earlier threat of a 32% tariff, signaling a partial de-escalation of trade tensions as the Trump administration continues to push for what it views as more favorable terms with trading partners

The parade of power players to Lei Jun's door tells a story. Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon, and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang have all made the pilgrimage to meet with Xiaomi's founder and CEO during their China visits. This isn't a coincidence — it's recognition of where the real gravity now lies in China's innovation landscape

New tariff rates from the US government are set to take effect in August, impacting a range of countries, including Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Malaysia, all key players in Taiwan's regional trade network. Despite the broader uncertainties, Taiwan's automotive parts industry is expressing optimism, anticipating a potential surge in orders

India's Dixon Technologies has signed two new agreements with Chinese firms, a joint venture and an acquisition, in a move that could test the central government's evolving approach to foreign direct investment (FDI) from China following the Galwan Valley clash in 2020. These deals bring Dixon's total tie-ups with Chinese partners to five, each awaiting FDI approval by the Indian government

China is pushing large-scale adoption of humanoid robots by directing state-owned enterprises to ramp up procurement. In one of the biggest deals so far, China Mobile (Hangzhou) Information Technology, an arm of China Mobile, awarded a CNY124 million (US$17.2 million) contract in June 2025 to Unitree Robotics and AgiBot (Zhiyuan Robotics), according to reports from Southern Metropolis Daily, SCMP, and STAR Market Daily

Nissan announced on July 15, 2025, that its Oppama plant will cease production by the end of fiscal year 2027. Vehicle manufacturing operations will be transferred to Nissan Motor Kyushu located in Fukuoka Prefecture. Subsidiary Nissan Shatai's Shonan plant is also scheduled to stop production by the end of the fiscal year 2026

Malaysia has steadily developed its outsourced semiconductor assembly and testing (OSAT) industry, with Penang — often called the "Silicon Valley of the East" — at its core. A recent DIGITIMES visit to Penang offers a fresh view of the region's legacy OSAT giants and fast-rising newcomers

The US International Trade Commission (ITC) has issued a preliminary ruling in favor of Samsung Display, backing the South Korean company's allegations that Chinese rival BOE Technology misappropriated OLED trade secrets. If upheld, the decision could disrupt BOE's supply of OLED panels for Apple's iPhones, injecting fresh uncertainty into the global smartphone supply chain

Uber Technologies is accelerating its global robotaxi expansion through a landmark multiyear alliance with China's Baidu Inc. This renewed partnership, rekindling ties from a strategic investment over a decade ago, positions both companies at the forefront of the intensifying autonomous vehicle race

Facing mounting challenges at home and intensifying global competition, South Korea's semiconductor industry is at a crossroads. Now, a growing chorus of experts is urging Seoul to draw lessons from an unlikely source: Japan

Japanese automaker Suzuki Motor has officially entered the electric vehicle market with the launch of its first model, the e Vitara, an electric SUV manufactured in Gujarat, India. The e Vitara is already available in the United Kingdom and is expected to expand to other international markets by summer 2025. Suzuki plans to introduce the model in Japan during fiscal year 2025, spanning from April 2025 to March 2026