Japan has made meaningful strides in reclaiming its semiconductor competitiveness with the establishment of the Leading-edge Semiconductor Technology Center (LSTC) and Rapidus, aiming to build a domestic ecosystem for advanced logic IC development and mass production. However, the Semiconductor Division of the Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association (JEITA) says the country's efforts remain too narrowly focused

In a sign of China's accelerating ambitions in the semiconductor race, ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT), the country's leading DRAM manufacturer, is rapidly advancing development of next-generation memory technologies. Departing from its original plan to commercialize DDR5 using a 17-nanometer process, CXMT is now opting for a more advanced 16-nanometer node. A 15-nanometer process is also under development, with mass production targeted for late 2026

US-China trade negotiations resumed in London on June 9, following a joint statement issued in Geneva on May 12. In that agreement, both sides committed to lowering reciprocal and retaliatory tariffs, cutting the previous peak rate of 125% to 34%. Of this, 24% was suspended for 90 days, while 10% remains in effect

SK Hynix is approaching the final delivery deadline for its May orders of thermal compression bonding (TCB) equipment from Hanmi Semiconductor and Hanwha Semitech, as the industry focus shifts to which vendor will secure contracts for the second half of 2025

Marking the first anniversary of China's "Eight Measures for the STAR Market"—a landmark reform package aimed at boosting tech innovation and industrial upgrading—the country has recorded its biggest-ever merger in the computing power sector

Samsung Electronics' foundry division is targeting the artificial intelligence (AI) chip market with a new collaboration alongside Groq, aiming to bring their jointly developed chip into mass production. Groq CEO Jonathan Ross recently stated that together with Samsung Foundry, they have created a truly outstanding chip on a global scale

China is ramping up trade ties with ASEAN and the EU as US-China tensions deepen and global supply chains continue to shift. According to June 2025 data from the General Administration of Customs, China's total trade reached CNY17.94 trillion (US$2.5 trillion) in the first five months of 2025, marking 2.5% year-over-year growth. Exports climbed 7.2%, while imports declined 3.8%

A prolonged disruption in rare earth magnet supplies could slow down India's electric vehicle (EV) rollout and impact the broader automobile industry, according to a recent assessment by CRISIL Ratings. The supply shortage, triggered by China's export restrictions and shipping delays, poses a critical risk just as automakers prepare to launch over a dozen EV models, many of which are built on permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) platforms, according to industry sources

To strengthen South Korea's development of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, President Jae-Myung Lee has pledged to invest KRW100 trillion in AI as part of his campaign promise. In line with this commitment, the South Korean presidential office will establish a Chief AI Officer (CAIO) position and enhance the functions of the National AI Committee. South Korean media have also noted that the country is poised to foster a nationally representative AI company, taking inspiration from France's Mistral AI

As geopolitical tensions between China and the US continue to escalate, the Southeast Asian market has become a new strategic focal point for global semiconductor players—particularly in the microcontroller unit (MCU) segment. Industry players are eyeing Southeast Asia not only for its growth potential but also as a platform to diversify global applications and reduce political risk

Chinese processor developer Hygon Information Technology and supercomputing firm Dawning Information Industry Co. (Sugon) unveiled a CNY116 billion (US$16.2 billion) share-swap merger plan on June 9, 2025. Under the deal, Hygon will acquire Sugon by issuing new A-shares at a 0.5525:1 swap ratio. To raise complementary funding, a private placement to up to 35 qualified investors will also be launched. Trading in both companies' shares resumed on June 10, 2025

Several of China's state-owned automakers have pledged to standardize bill payment periods for their suppliers to 60 days after authorities raised concerns about supply chain financing

The US and China de-escalated trade tensions, agreeing to a preliminary deal on how to implement the consensus the two sides reached in Geneva, negotiators for both sides said

The Trump administration has escalated its tech crackdown on China with a sweeping ban on Electronic Design Automation (EDA) software exports. On May 29, 2025, Synopsys, Cadence, and Siemens EDA—who together dominate the EDA space—confirmed they had received orders from the US Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) to cease all EDA-related sales and support to China without a license. Unlike the Biden administration's earlier node-specific controls, this latest action, classified under ECCN 3D991 and 3E991, represents a far more expansive push to undercut China's chip design capabilities