CONNECT WITH US
Monday 14 April 2025
China's GPU surge defies tariff fears, fuels semiconductor boom
As the US-China tariff saga intensifies, the Trump administration's decision to delay reciprocal tariffs by 90 days offers a fleeting reprieve for the semiconductor supply chain. Despite initial expectations that tariff-related stockpiling would boost first-quarter revenues in 2025, industry sources reveal a different driver: China's voracious appetite for GPUs, spurred by its AI supply chain, has emerged as the true engine of growth
Monday 14 April 2025
US-China tariff clash escalates; hits semiconductor sector but boosts China's domestic chipmakers

Since President Donald Trump declared April 2 as "Liberation Day" and unveiled sweeping reciprocal tariffs, the US-China trade war has sharply intensified. Trump's changing tariff policy on China has now been up to 145%. China's State Council Tariff Commission responded in kind: beginning April 12, all US-origin goods entering China would face the same 125% tariff

Monday 14 April 2025
Taiwan's machinery industry girds for tariff impact; warns of Chinese dumping and origin-washing
As Taiwan's machinery industry grapples with the US's reciprocal tariffs, it seizes the 90-day buffer period and 10% initial rate to devise countermeasures. Beyond domestic subsidies, the sector's gravest concerns lie abroad: thwarting China's potential dumping, curbing origin-washing schemes, and countering the strategies of rivals Japan and South Korea
Monday 14 April 2025
China wields diplomacy and countermeasures as shield against US tariffs
China is navigating the complexities of ongoing trade tensions with the US by employing a dual strategy of diplomatic engagement and strategic countermeasures. President Xi Jinping has taken a proactive role in fostering international trade relations, emphasizing the detrimental effects of tariff conflicts, while simultaneously addressing the practical challenges posed by US trade policies
Monday 14 April 2025
DIGITIMES analysis: electronics tariffs driving three-pronged supply chain transformation
US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick indicated Sunday that recent tariff exemptions for electronics and semiconductor products are merely temporary, with comprehensive semiconductor tariffs likely arriving "within a month or two." The move aims to repatriate manufacturing of critical components to US soil
Monday 14 April 2025
MA-Tek sees revenue surge with strong Japanese and Chinese demand

Benefiting from contributions from Japanese laboratories and the return of large orders from Chinese clients, Materials Analysis Technology (MA-Tek), a major player in the semiconductor testing industry, reported a revenue of NT$444 million (approx. US$ 13milion) in March, a 9.51% increase from February and a 2.83% rise compared to the same period in 2024

Monday 14 April 2025
China responds to US tariff exemptions, calls them 'small step'
Amid persistent US-China trade tensions, China's Ministry of Commerce responded to a recent US tariff exemption announcement with skepticism, calling it a "limited correction rather than a meaningful policy shift"
Monday 14 April 2025
Tariff maze deepens: US duties on Chinese goods up to 245% amid policy whiplash
Since April, the Trump administration's tariff policies have undergone frequent changes, creating confusion for businesses and traders struggling to adapt. Although the White House announced on April 11 that smartphones, PCs, and other products would be temporarily exempt from reciprocal tariffs—offering tech giants like Apple some breathing room—Chinese exports to the US still face tariffs ranging from 20% to as high as 245%
Monday 14 April 2025
Tech companies rush to diversify production amid US-China trade tensions
US-China trade tensions continue to escalate despite the Trump administration's partial tariff exemptions for electronics components. Major tech brands are accelerating production shifts away from China, with Apple reportedly planning to move 40% of Mac production to Vietnam
Monday 14 April 2025
Desperate Gamble: Trump's 145% tariffs on China ignite concerns of economic decoupling
As US President Donald Trump escalates tariffs on Chinese goods to a punishing 145%—adding an additional 125% on top of an existing 20% base—Zheng Yongnian, a leading Chinese political scientist and government advisor, contends that tariffs surpassing 60% have no substantive difference from an exorbitant 500%. Such steep tariffs effectively disrupt traditional trade mechanisms, pushing the two countries toward an economic "decoupling" scenario
Monday 14 April 2025
Apple was on brink of crisis before Trump tariff concession
Apple Inc. has managed to dodge its biggest crisis since the pandemic — for the moment, at least
Monday 14 April 2025
Weekly news roundup: SiCarrier lithography claims meet skepticism; Taiwan aims to stabilize US trade ties
These are the most-read DIGITIMES Asia stories from the week of April 7 – April 13
Monday 14 April 2025
CSIA issues urgent notice as new tariffs cause pricing chaos for imported chips in China
The escalation in the tariff war has affected the global chip supply chain, causing significant disruption in pricing within China's imported chip market. As a result, some OEMs have temporarily suspended price quotes and are instead adopting a wait-and-see approach, which is expected to impact IC distributors first
Monday 14 April 2025
China narrows AI gap with US, but investment constraints loom
According to the latest AI Index Report released by Stanford University's Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence Institute, China is rapidly catching up with the US in developing cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) models
Monday 14 April 2025
The Great Tech Reset 13: China's rural-to-urban strategy reshapes global tech dominance
China's "Xinchuan" initiative, a national endeavor to supplant foreign technology and imported products with homegrown capabilities, stands as a cornerstone of its industrial policy. However, the reality on the ground reveals a paradox. Vast stockpiles of semiconductor equipment, procured with fervor, languish unused. Absent sufficient orders, these machines remain dormant, underscoring a stark underutilization of China's ambitious investments in chip-making infrastructure