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Wednesday 16 July 2025
EV disputes remain a roadblock to EU-China relations
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
Wednesday 16 July 2025
Samsung, S&S Tech advance EUV mask localization to reduce reliance on Japan's Hoya
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
Wednesday 16 July 2025
ASML posts strong results, eyes growth amid China curbs and tariff concerns
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
Wednesday 16 July 2025
Why Nvidia, Samsung, Qualcomm are all knocking on Xiaomi's door
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
Wednesday 16 July 2025
Dixon's new deals with Chinese firms test India's evolving stance on FDI post-Galwan
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
Wednesday 16 July 2025
China Mobile taps Unitree, AgiBot in US$17 million state-backed robot deal
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
Wednesday 16 July 2025
Nissan to close two plants in Japan; ongoing talks with Foxconn for future transformation
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
Wednesday 16 July 2025
Samsung wins early US trade ruling against BOE in iPhone OLED dispute
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
Wednesday 16 July 2025
Uber, Baidu relaunch robotaxi race: what it means for autonomous mobility's next chapter
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
Wednesday 16 July 2025
From decline to recovery: Japan's semiconductor lessons for South Korea
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
Wednesday 16 July 2025
Semco pushes thinner chip capacitors to chase AI server boom
Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co. (Semco) is ramping up development of advanced multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCC) as demand surges from artificial intelligence (AI) servers and automotive systems, betting that breakthroughs in ceramic powder technology will give it an edge over Chinese rivals
Wednesday 16 July 2025
Hanmi Semiconductor says hybrid bonders too costly for HBM4, HBM5 production
Hanmi Semiconductor's chairman dismissed hybrid bonder equipment as impractical and too expensive for next-generation high-bandwidth memory production, as the South Korean company defends its market-leading position against rising competition
Wednesday 16 July 2025
China steps up the ADAS race: Horizon Robotics locks in full Journey 6 series to take on Nvidia
Horizon Robotics, widely seen as China's answer to Nvidia, has marked a key milestone in its automotive AI chip rollout. The company's new entry-level processor, Journey 6B, completed power-on and passed functional tests just 23 minutes after packaging, underscoring both rapid validation and manufacturing readiness
Wednesday 16 July 2025
US chip policy reversal boosts AMD and Nvidia, ties AI sales to rare earth trade with China
The US has cleared AMD and Nvidia to resume sales of AI chips to China, marking a major shift in tech trade policy. The move signals a softening stance on export controls and could ease tensions between Washington and Beijing amid rising demand for AI semiconductors
Wednesday 16 July 2025
Lee Jae-yong’s global sprint: Samsung chair courts partnerships in US, China, and Japan

Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong returned to South Korea on July 14 following a whirlwind trip to the exclusive Sun Valley Conference in Idaho, marking his fourth publicly disclosed overseas trip of 2025. With each of his international visits increasingly tied to strategic business talks and next-generation growth sectors, industry watchers are closely tracking what may emerge from his latest excursion