Kumamoto Governor Takashi Kimura recently affirmed that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company’s (TSMC) commitment to its investments in Japan, particularly in Kumamoto Prefecture, remains steadfast despite tariff escalation threats from the Trump administration. Speaking to Nikkei, Kimura emphasized that the Japan Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing (JASM) facility, a TSMC subsidiary, was established to cater to domestic Japanese demand. He further noted that assurances of continued investment have come directly from TSMC’s headquarters, minimizing the impact of US tariffs on its Japanese operations.

HTC Corp. posted strong March results, driven by its expanding AR/VR business and a major licensing deal with Google. The company reportedly transferred part of its extended reality (XR) R&D team to Google and granted a non-exclusive license for select XR intellectual property.

US President Donald Trump said he has no plans to suspend tariffs to facilitate trade negotiations, calling this the country’s only chance to rebuild its industrial base. He warned that if China does not roll back its 34% retaliatory tariffs on US goods, Washington will slap an additional 50% tariff on Chinese imports, raising the total rate to 104%.

The Trump administration’s reciprocal tariffs have disrupted global electronics, with mainboard manufacturers shipping to the US until April 9, after which suppliers will halt shipments, sparking a rush to handle inventory and plan for an uncertain future.