Taiwan’s chip design firms say second-quarter results point to a clear trend, with inventories climbing in value even as turnover days hold steady. Executives say the increase is not due to weaker demand but rather to clients placing frequent rush orders, forcing companies to hold more stock as a buffer.

Chip designer Arm has hired Amazon’s artificial intelligence chip director Rami Sinno as it pushes into developing its processors, Reuters reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

2025 is being hailed as the inaugural year for AI-powered smart glasses. After Meta and Xiaomi entered the field, Taiwan’s HTC Corporation officially launched its first model, the VIVE Eagle, on August 14, intensifying competition in the fast-growing market.

Taiwan is currently excluded from the non-cumulative tariff agreements that the EU and Japan have reached with the US, and Taiwan’s negotiation representatives are facing additional pressures of unfair competition as the US selectively applies protectionist trade policies. Premier Jung-tai Cho has stated that the government will seek the elimination of cumulative tariffs, as industries that primarily export to the US—including the machinery, machine tools, plumbing hardware, screws, hand tools, and textile sectors—have collectively appealed to the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) for assistance.