The US Department of Commerce recently revoked restrictions imposed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in late December 2025 that banned imports of new drones and components from Chinese manufacturers, including DJI and Autel Robotics, due to national security concerns. This reversal complicates earlier assumptions that Taiwanese suppliers would gain significantly from displaced orders. However, industry experts suggest the impact on Taiwan’s industrial PC (IPC) sector may be limited.

Amkor Technology, the US-based semiconductor packaging and testing company, said it will close its Hakodate plant in northern Japan by December 2027, citing weak demand stemming from a slowdown in the global electric vehicle (EV) market. The factory, located in the town of Nanae in Hokkaido, specializes in packaging chips used in automobiles.

Taiwan-based passive component maker Yageo said Japan’s Shibaura Electronics was officially delisted from the Tokyo Stock Exchange on January 13. Following the completion of the share consolidation, Yageo now holds 100% of the voting rights in Shibaura Electronics as of January 15.

During TSMC’s first earnings call of 2026, CEO C.C. Wei said that key metrics at its Arizona fabs are approaching the level of advanced manufacturing in Taiwan. Rising demand from US-based AI customers supports TSMC’s capacity expansion in the US, prompting back-end packaging and testing supply chain partners to consider expanding their US presence.