The US Department of Commerce (DOC) is set to announce the results of the Section 232 investigations within the next two weeks, a potential cornerstone event for chip tariffs. The entire industry is closely monitoring the possible ripple effects.

Samsung has secured a major deal with Tesla, creating new opportunities for its foundry business and providing leverage in South Korea-US tariff negotiations. The partnership extends beyond commercial interests, aligning with US semiconductor policy, investment attraction strategies, and Washington’s push for technological independence from China. Samsung will produce Tesla’s next-generation autonomous driving chip AI6, at its Texas Taylor plant starting in 2026, using Samsung’s 2nm process technology.

Specialty IC foundry Vanguard International Semiconductor (VIS) announced its latest financial results on July 29, reporting a second-quarter 2025 consolidated revenue of NT$11.7 billion (approx. US$394.18 million), a 2.1% sequential decline and a 5.7% year-on-year increase. The net income totaled NT$2.04 billion for the quarter, down 15.4% from the previous quarter and up 13.6% from the same period last year.