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Friday 9 January 2026
China turns to rare earths in escalating Japan dispute
China said on January 6, 2026, that it would tighten export controls on so-called "dual-use" goods bound for Japan, a move that state media suggested could extend to rare earth materials, intensifying concerns about supply disruptions across Asia's industrial supply chains
Friday 9 January 2026
FCC drone exemptions exclude DJI, blocking new US product launches
The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has updated its Covered List to exempt certain uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) and critical drone components from import and authorization restrictions, but the revised exemptions do not include products from Chinese drone maker DJI, reinforcing regulatory pressure on the company's US business
Friday 9 January 2026
Commentary: China's DCS probe against Japan shows where substitution is viable
China's Ministry of Commerce said on January 7, 2026, that it has launched an anti-dumping investigation into Japanese-origin dichlorosilane (DCS). While framed as a routine trade-remedy case under existing rules, the decision reflects a more specific reality in the semiconductor materials supply chain: China now has domestic fallback capacity in this critical process material, allowing policymakers to act selectively at a sensitive juncture
Friday 9 January 2026
Carmakers circumvent Beijing's pricing ban with creative discounts
Barely a month after China's top market regulator moved to clamp down on price wars, the policy's resolve is already showing signs of strain
Friday 9 January 2026
Apple antitrust case in India heads to court over US$38 billion potential fine
Apple is set to face a key hearing in India on January 27, 2026, over the calculation of potential antitrust fines linked to its App Store practices. The case, initiated by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) in 2021, examines whether Apple abused its dominant position by requiring developers to use its proprietary payment system, with fees reportedly reaching up to 30%. The investigation stems from complaints by app developers, including Match Group, and Indian startups
Friday 9 January 2026
China tests US-Japan-South Korea alliance with export controls
China is testing the extent of support US President Donald Trump would extend to Japan by imposing export controls on the country, just months after Trump boasted that he had solved the rare earth issue for the whole world. Beijing has announced a ban on exports of all dual-use items that could potentially be used for military purposes. The move could impact approximately 40% of China's exports to Japan and pose a threat to its automotive industry, which relies heavily on rare earths. Shortly following this announcement, China launched an anti-dumping investigation into dichlorosilane, a key chipmaking material originating from Japan
Friday 9 January 2026
Limited H200 access signals Beijing's calibrated approach to foreign AI technology due to security concerns
China is preparing to approve limited imports of Nvidia's H200 AI chips as early as this quarter, potentially reopening a key market for the US chipmaker while maintaining strict national security safeguards, according to Bloomberg, citing people familiar with the matter
Friday 9 January 2026
Tata Power to launch India's largest solar ingot and wafer facility
Tata Power Renewable Energy, a subsidiary of Tata Power, plans to establish a greenfield 10GW ingot and wafer manufacturing facility in Nellore district, Andhra Pradesh, with an investment of INR66.75 billion (US$810 million), making it the largest facility of its kind in India. The project, approved by the State Investment Promotion Board (SIPB), will be developed in two phases across 200 acres within the IFFCO Kisan Special Economic Zone, with 120 acres allocated for the initial phase and 80 acres for future expansion, according to PTI, CNBC-TV18, and the Economic Times
Friday 9 January 2026
How China's carmakers are pushing imported cars to the margins
China's market for imported passenger cars continues to shrink, underscoring a profound shift in consumer preferences and industrial power. According to the latest data from the China Automobile Dealers Association, cumulative passenger car imports totaled about 440,000 vehicles through November 2025. This represents a decline of 29.7% from a year earlier
Friday 9 January 2026
Samsung Foundry eyes auto chips for growth beyond data centers

Samsung Electronics is positioning its contract chipmaking business to win automotive orders, a move industry analysts view as a practical entry point into the emerging "Physical AI" market. While TSMC remains the leader in AI processors for data centers, Samsung is focusing on the specific demands of vehicles and robotics

Friday 9 January 2026
China targets 2027 self-sufficiency in core AI technologies
Amid escalating US–China technology competition, China at the start of 2026 formally unveiled new objectives for its AI industrial policy. Eight government bodies, including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), jointly released an implementation plan for "AI + Manufacturing." The plan sets a clear target: by 2027, China aims to secure a fully "safe and reliable" domestic supply of core AI technologies and integrate three to five general-purpose large language models (LLMs) deeply into manufacturing and other industrial sectors
Friday 9 January 2026
South Korean startup WARP Solution advances Wi-Fi-like wireless charging
South Korean startup WARP Solution is advancing the commercialization of radio frequency (RF) wireless power transfer (WPT) chips and components, via applications such as electronic shelf labels (ESL). The company has already begun collaboration and validation efforts with consumer electronics brands such as Samsung Electronics and is showcasing its products at CES 2026, aiming to expand partnerships worldwide
Thursday 8 January 2026
India's OSATs are comfortable with materials today, but that may not last
India's backend semiconductor manufacturers are benefiting from a narrow window of materials comfort that is closely tied to the use of legacy packaging technologies
Thursday 8 January 2026
CES 2026: Power shift on display as TCL takes center stage while Samsung steps back
CES 2026 opened on January 6 (Pacific Time), offering not only a snapshot of technology trends but also a clear signal of shifting industry power. Ahead of the show, industry watchers had widely expected Japanese and South Korean brands to scale back. DIGITIMES on-site reporting confirms that Samsung Electronics and SK Group — both major Central Hall exhibitors in 2025 — were absent from the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) this year, with their former prime locations taken over by Chinese companies led by TCL
Thursday 8 January 2026
China's 'Neuralink rival' raises US$286 million in BCI funding
China's brain–computer interface (BCI) unicorn BrainCo has completed a funding round of about CNY2 billion (US$286 million), making it the world's second-largest single BCI financing, behind only Neuralink's US$650 million raise in mid-2025