Many South Korean companies are turning to 3D printing to cut production costs, using the technology to manufacture products in critical sectors such as aerospace and defense, areas classified as national core technologies. However, some cases involve the use of Chinese-made 3D printers or subcontractors leaking proprietary technologies to China. Critics argue that South Korea’s current registration-based system for operating 3D printing businesses lacks sufficient oversight, leaving the industry vulnerable to security breaches and intellectual property theft.

As US-China tech tensions intensify, Huawei is accelerating efforts to achieve technological independence after being added to the US Entity List in 2019. He Tingbo, president of HiSilicon and a central figure in Huawei’s semiconductor strategy, is stepping into a pivotal role. She has been appointed head of Huawei’s Senior Talent Compensation Division, expanding her authority over executive pay and talent development, key pillars in the company’s long-term innovation agenda.

US President Donald Trump has unveiled a trade agreement with Vietnam that reduces tariffs on Vietnamese exports to the US from 46% to 20%, while imposing a 40% levy on transshipped goods. Although the full policy details have yet to be released, connector and cable suppliers say the Vietnam deal provides a provisional reference point amid broader uncertainty over regional tariff policies.