Following Donald Trump’s election, the US-China trade war appeared to be entering a new phase with Trump’s announcement in late November of additional tariffs on China, Mexico, and Canada, a move reminiscent of his “Tariff Man” persona.

In 2024, the optoelectronics industry faced challenging market conditions. Despite this, OLED panels are expanding from smartphones into tablets, PCs, and other IT products, driving investments from major players. Microdisplays, automotive panels, and glass substrates are also gaining traction, with competition expected to intensify post-2025.

Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan hastily passed amendments to the Act Governing the Allocation of Government Revenues and Expenditures without sufficient discussion, sparking major controversy and raising concerns about the government’s ability to fulfill its policy commitments. Following warnings from the Ministry of Economic Affairs about the impact on subsidies for Nvidia, the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) announced that NT$122 billion (approx. US$3.72 billion) in fundamental research projects would also be affected.