Despite a pledge made at the Geneva talks to lift export restrictions on rare earth materials, China has yet to follow through. According to The Wall Street Journal, Chinese authorities have recently instructed domestic rare earth companies to submit detailed personnel rosters, including technical qualifications, research experience, and personal data. The move is part of a broader effort to establish a national-level database aimed at preventing technology leaks.
Flexible copper clad laminate maker Taiflex Scientific Co. said downstream customers increased inventory purchases in the first quarter amid uncertainty over new US tariff policies, driving shipment momentum for standard materials. The Taiwan-based manufacturer expects consumer electronics demand to face headwinds from macroeconomic volatility, though it doesn't anticipate destocking pressure in the second half of 2025.
Amazon Web Services (AWS) currently serves approximately 4.2 million customers worldwide, with startups making up 70% of this base, according to recent industry research. The US remains AWS's largest market by customer distribution, while the Asia-Pacific region ranks third. Experts predict artificial intelligence (AI) will significantly accelerate cloud market growth.
Lianyou Metals, a rare metal recycling and smelting company, expects steady growth in sodium tungstate and battery-grade cobalt sulfate shipments in the second half of 2025 as international customers increasingly adopt recycled materials to meet ESG requirements.
The National Institutes of Applied Research (NIAR) hosted the selection and award ceremony for the first phase of the 2025 From IP to IPO (FITI) project on June 25, during which honorary dean and Acer founder Stan Shih stressed that innovation and entrepreneurship must focus on creating value. In his words, entrepreneurs should transform investments into tangible values that the market recognizes and appreciates.
With US-China tariff tensions intensifying and global manufacturers racing to decentralize their supply chains, Southeast Asia is emerging as the new strategic hub for IC distributors. Beyond the geopolitical calculus, companies are increasingly drawn to the region's potential as a high-growth cluster for automotive electronics, IC testing and packaging, and emerging tech ecosystems.
PC sales momentum is weak, but the peripheral market is bucking the trend, with Logitech recording strong growth from China's 618 shopping festival, according to Aries Sze, who oversees the company's business in Taiwan and Hong Kong, as well as its channel strategy in the Chinese market.
As the deadline for President Trump's tariff deferrals approaches on July 9, global attention shifts to the G7 summit in Canada, where leaders are pressing the US to roll back its trade restrictions. However, in a dramatic turn of events, Trump cut his participation short, citing more urgent matters back home. On the evening of June 21, Trump ordered seven B-2 bombers to strike Iran's underground nuclear facilities, signaling a significant escalation in US military engagement in the region.
South Korea plans to spend about KRW1.5 trillion (US$1.1 billion) on a government-backed GPU program as major technology companies, including Naver and Kakao, compete for participation in the country's first large-scale artificial intelligence initiative under President Yoon Suk-yeol.
Chin-Ching Liu, chairman of the National Development Council (NDC), stated during a briefing at Taiwan's Economic Committee on June 25 that manufacturers' annual shipments are usually fixed. If customers pull orders forward in the first half of 2025, caution should be exercised for the second half. Additionally, Nvidia's GB300 chip will begin shipping in the second half of the year, supporting Taiwan's export performance. Private investment in Taiwan is projected to reach NT$5.7 trillion (US$194.1 billion) for the full year, potentially driving GDP growth by an additional 3.1 percentage points.
Google DeepMind has unveiled Gemini Robotics On-Device, the first cloud-independent robotics model capable of performing complex tasks without internet connectivity. This AI model enables robots to operate autonomously in environments where network access is limited or unavailable.
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