US tightens China fab oversight with annual tool licences for Samsung SK hynix and TSMC

The United States has shifted to a more controlled framework for overseeing semiconductor equipment exports to China, replacing a long standing waiver system with annual export licences for major foreign chipmakers operating on the mainland. The move affects companies including Samsung Electronics, SK

ASML Flags Slowing China Demand Under Sanctions Pressure

Global demand for semiconductor manufacturing equipment remained strong in 2025, but China is no longer the growth engine it once was for Europe’s largest chipmaking tools supplier. After a year of double digit sales growth, ASML signaled that its already declining exposure to

Global Partners Rebalance Toward China as Western Ties Fray

China’s effort to reposition itself as a stable economic partner is gaining traction as shifting U.S. policies push several governments to reassess long standing trade relationships. The latest signal came as Britain’s prime minister arrived in Beijing seeking to reset commercial ties, following

U.S.-Taiwan Semiconductor Deal Reshapes Trade and Investment Ties

The United States and Taiwan have reached a trade agreement that places semiconductors at the center of a broader effort to reshape technology supply chains and deepen industrial cooperation. The deal lowers tariffs on a wide range of Taiwanese exports while creating incentives

China Signals Caution on Advanced AI Chip Imports

Chinese authorities have issued internal guidance indicating that certain advanced artificial intelligence chips are not permitted to enter the country, reflecting a cautious approach to managing access to high-end foreign technology. The instructions were communicated to customs agents and accompanied by messages delivered

TSMC Profit Surge Signals AI-Driven Expansion Shift

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company has reported a sharp rise in quarterly profit, reinforcing its position at the center of the global semiconductor supply chain as demand linked to artificial intelligence continues to accelerate. The company’s latest financial performance reflects sustained orders for advanced

Yearender: How China Is Powering Ahead With an Efficiency Revolution

As global technology competition intensifies and supply chains become more fragmented, China is responding not by retreating inward, but by doubling down on efficiency. Across factories, logistics hubs, energy systems, and digital platforms, the country is quietly building an internal engine designed to

US Flags Chinese Semiconductor Push as Economic Risk While Delaying Tariff Impact Until 2027

The United States has formally identified China’s semiconductor industry strategy as a significant economic risk, while postponing the full impact of new tariffs on Chinese chips until mid 2027. The decision reflects Washington’s growing concern over Beijing’s industrial policies, even as it leaves

China Confirms First General Licences for Rare Earth Exports, Signalling Policy Shift

China has confirmed that it has begun issuing its first general licences for the export of rare earth elements, marking a notable shift in how the country manages overseas access to some of the world’s most critical industrial minerals. Beijing said the new

China accelerates semiconductor self reliance amid global chip tensions

China’s semiconductor industry is pressing ahead with efforts to strengthen self reliance as global chip tensions continue to reshape supply chains and technology access. Export controls imposed by the United States and its allies have limited China’s access to advanced chipmaking equipment and