On April 2, 2025, US President Donald Trump announced a new round of tariffs, imposing rates as high as 46% on products from Vietnam, 34% on those from China, 32% on Indonesia, and 26% on goods from India—key regions where many South Korean companies have production hubs. This escalation threatens to disrupt the complex global supply chains of these firms. However, for businesses like Hanwha Solutions and OCI, which run solar energy plants in the US, the changing geopolitical landscape could strengthen their competitive position
As Donald Trump ramps up his tariff-heavy trade agenda in a bid to bring manufacturing back to US soil, Taiwan's tech and manufacturing sectors are bracing for impact—again. From auto parts to semiconductors and servers to smartphones, a sweeping new set of tariffs threatens to unravel years of global supply chain planning
For nearly 50 years, Intel remained committed to its integrated device manufacturing (IDM) model. From its founding CEO Robert Noyce to Paul Otellini, the company prioritized in-house chip design and production while building the globally recognized "Intel Inside" brand. That strategy held until 2013, when then-CEO Brian Krzanich began cautiously exploring the contract chipmaking business
Generative AI is redrawing the tech landscape—from cloud to edge—while geopolitical tensions push countries to rethink their semiconductor strategies. As Taiwan, led by TSMC, navigates a shifting global order, the question is no longer whether it can lead but how it must evolve to stay ahead
Supply chain operators worldwide are carefully navigating the impact of President Trump's sweeping tariff policies, which have rapidly reshaped global trade dynamics since his January inauguration. From initial adjustments affecting Mexico and Canada to recent reciprocal tariff measures, companies are strategizing optimal responses amid ongoing uncertainty
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
On April 3, 2025, the United States announced a 34% "reciprocal tariff" on Chinese goods. The next day, China retaliated with a 34% punitive tariff, marking the most significant escalation in the trade war between the two nations since their economic tensions began in 2018. This move has drawn global attention, signaling that the economic battle between China and the US has expanded beyond traditional trade disputes into full-scale confrontations over technology and supply chains
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
Microsoft has experienced significant momentum in the past two years due to GenAI, but recent signals indicate a shift towards cautiousness. Despite previously emphasizing urgent demand for data centers at the end of 2024, Microsoft has reportedly canceled leases for some data centers in the US and Europe since the first quarter of 2025
Media reports suggest that US shipbuilding output is merely 1/200th of China's, allowing China to expand its navy at an astonishing rate. In fact, the total number of Chinese warships has already surpassed that of the US Navy. Now, Trump is advocating for regaining control of the Panama Canal and imposing higher transit fees on Chinese-built ships—an aggressive move that directly targets a critical vulnerability in China's shipbuilding industry. While Trump's approach seeks to revive American manufacturing through drastic measures, the real challenge lies in the prevailing mindset of Americans, who are generally reluctant to enter the manufacturing sector
OpenAI's ChatGPT recently introduced a new image generation feature, allowing users to transform images into the style of Hayao Miyazaki (Studio Ghibli), once again setting off a trend. However, high system traffic has led OpenAI to impose usage limits
For the first 45 years after Intel's founding, from its first CEO Robert Noyce to its fifth, Paul Otellini, the company focused on perfecting the IDM (integrated device manufacturing) model. The "Intel Inside" campaign became a global success, cementing Intel's position at the top of the semiconductor industry. It wasn't until 2013 when Brian Krzanich became Intel's sixth CEO that the company made its first tentative steps into foundry services
During China's peak prosperity, Taiwan managed to survive under significant pressure. Now, freed from direct Chinese constraints, Taiwan continues to navigate challenges alongside global powers. Within the G2 dynamic, Taiwan grapples with internal limitations such as energy, talent, and land. Even the goal of maintaining the status quo poses an increasingly daunting challenge, with US policy toward Taiwan—especially under the Trump administration—remaining a critical factor
