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Feb 24
Taiwan says 15% US tariff caps worst-case risk, but exporters face uneven outlook
Following the US Supreme Court ruling that global tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) were unlawful, President Donald Trump announced a comprehensive tariff increase of 15%, a move Taiwanese officials say is less damaging than the alternative previously anticipated.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has amplified recruitment of South Korean semiconductor talent via social media, deepening competition for engineers as global tech firms increasingly target the country's skilled workforce.

In an interview with DIGITIMES, Patrick McGee, author of 'Apple in China,' joined DIGITIMES vice president Eric Huang in dissecting the complex, decades-long interdependence between "the world's greatest company" and its primary manufacturing hub. The interview highlighted a critical crossroads: as Chinese "red supply chain" firms squeeze out traditional partners, Taiwanese giants are leveraging their Apple-honed expertise to lead the global AI revolution.

What if the next pillar of the global semiconductor industry isn't built in one country — but three?
The rapid development of AI and high-performance computing (HPC) chips is providing long-term demand support for the semiconductor advanced testing interface supply chain, driving growth in the global probe card market. Technologically, as signal contact density and probe pin counts continue to rise, the requirements for guide plate hole counts and structural precision in a single probe card are also increasing accordingly.
In an interview with Germany's Handelsblatt, Infineon CEO Jochen Hanebeck said the emerging robotics market is expected to generate significant revenue growth and help support the company's stable performance amid margin pressures.

Artificial intelligence infrastructure spending is tightening global memory supply and reshaping the semiconductor cycle. Speaking at the 2026 Trans-Pacific Dialogue in Washington, SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won said demand for AI memory is distorting supply chains and pledged to expand production of what he described as "monster chips."

ASML has unveiled an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) upgrade that could raise chip output per scanner by up to 50% by 2030, without expanding cleanroom space or adding new tools.

The US Supreme Court on February 20 struck down the Trump administration's use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose "reciprocal tariffs," prompting the administration to switch to Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 and impose a temporary additional 15% tariff on global goods. The change has immediate implications for previously negotiated exemptions and for Taiwan's export sectors.
Memory supply shortages and rising prices for electronics components are expected to weigh on smartphone and notebook shipments in 2026, industry sources say. Mid- to low-end smartphone vendors face pressure to cut specs or raise prices amid thin margins and price-sensitive consumers.
Just ahead of the launch of Nvidia's next-generation GPU Vera Rubin, market sources indicate that the company will differentiate high-bandwidth memory (HBM) suppliers based on product performance tiers. Analysts suggest that Samsung Electronics may exclusively supply the sixth-generation HBM4 used in the highest-end products.
U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a severe new warning to U.S. trading partners following a recent Supreme Court decision that quashed his previous global duties.