Category: semiconductor

US Approves Thousands of Tech Export Requests to China; Latin America Is a Key Card for China

China is getting all the U.S. tech, and the Commerce Department is apparently helping. A new report suggests Commerce is approving requests to export tech to China. What does this mean for the U.S.-China tech war? And is the U.S. government serious about stopping China’s tech transfer and IP Theft? We discuss this amid the…


China’s Natural Sand Export Ban to Taiwan has Limited Impact on its Chip Industry: Experts

China has hit Taiwan with several economic sanctions following U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s high-profile visit to the island. Among them is a ban on natural sand export to Taiwan aimed at hurting some of its industries, including semiconductors. However, Chinese media recently disclosed that China does not produce the high-purity sand required for chipmaking…


Corruption Is Destroying Communist China’s Dream of Dominating Chip Industry

News Analysis It appears China’s national chipmaking campaign is coming to an end, with huge investments drained and key figures in the semiconductor industry arrested recently. According to Chinese financial media Caixin, on Aug. 2, Zhao Weiguo, former chairman of Tsinghua Unigroup, and Diao Shijing, the company’s former co-president, were both investigated last month. Li…


Semiconductors Emerge as Battleground in US-China Race to Make Global Tech Norms in Their Image

As every aspect of modern life becomes more and more digitized, not just the economies of nations but their sovereign influence will rely more and more on the command of technology. Although the United States and China are not engaged in traditional warfare, they are engaged in a war of ideas, trade, and technology, especially…


US Expands China Chip Ban, Weighs Blacklisting of Top Chinese Chipmaker

The United States has expanded its ban of exports to China of equipment that can make semiconductors up to 14 nanometers in size, and is considering plans to restrict NAND flash memory chip exports as well as blacklist a major Chinese memory chip maker, as China’s ruling communist party continues its aggressive posturing toward other…


South Korean PM Endorses Presidential Pardon for Samsung Chief Lee Jae-yong

Some prominent South Korean politicians are endorsing a presidential pardon for Samsung’s chief Lee Jae-yong, citing the company’s crucial role in the national economy and its increasing challenges in the global semiconductor market. Public opinion supports a favorable outcome. Lee, who is currently on parole over a bribery case, is in charge of Samsung Electronics’…


Pelosi to Visit Taiwan on Tuesday: Sources

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is expected to land in Taiwan on Tuesday. The potential trip is igniting tensions between the United States and China to a historical high—with Beijing threatening to take action. After passing both chambers of Congress, an over $200 billion spending bill is heading to President Joe Biden’s desk. Supporters say it…


Volkswagen Keeps Outlook, Says Porsche IPO on Track

BERLIN—Volkswagen said it expected to hit the high end of its profit target range for 2022 as supply chain bottlenecks ease and said it was still aiming to list the Porsche brand this year despite its CEO double jobbing as boss of both companies. Volkswagen shares rose 2.4 percent on Thursday following the second quarter…


Semiconductor Independence and the Failure of US Sanctions

Commentary Unless you happen to live under a rock, you’re no doubt aware that the world is in the midst of an “everything” crisis. With global shortages of gas and grains, baby formula, and bananas, it’s time to add semiconductors to this ever-expanding, rather eclectic-sounding list. According to analysts at McKinsey, the semiconductor industry accounts for $450…


Pelosi’s Husband Sells Nvidia Shares at Major Loss Ahead of House Vote on Chipmaker Subsidies

A recent filing by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) shows that her financier husband Paul Pelosi offloaded nearly $5 million worth of graphics card giant Nvidia shares just days before House lawmakers are set to consider legislation that would provide billions in government subsidies for U.S. semiconductor production. In a periodic transaction report signed on Tuesday,…