In the high-stakes race to supply memory for the next generation of artificial intelligence, Samsung Electronics is under mounting pressure to deliver its 12-layer HBM3E chips to Nvidia by the end of 2025. But as its self-imposed deadline approaches, uncertainty lingers over whether Samsung can meet the rigorous performance standards set by its most critical customer.

As US-China tech decoupling deepens, Advanced Micro-Fabrication Equipment (AMEC), a top Chinese semiconductor equipment maker, is ramping up efforts to localize its supply chain and boost technological independence. On May 27, 2025, Chairman and CEO Gerald Yin said the firm is developing over 20 next-generation chipmaking tools to reduce reliance on US-sourced technologies.

Huawei is reportedly supporting Zhuhai Cornerstone Technologies Co. in a strategic effort to localize chipmaking materials and reduce reliance on foreign suppliers. Founded in 2022, the company is emerging as a potential rival to global chemical giants including Shin-Etsu Chemical, JSR Corporation, Merck KGaA, DuPont, and Dow Chemical. As reported by Nikkei Asia, Zhuhai Cornerstone is being positioned as an “end-to-end” semiconductor chemical supplier, aligned with China’s broader push for supply chain independence amid tightening US export controls.