As 2025 nears its end, negotiations over the US Section 232 tariffs closely tied to Taiwan’s semiconductor and ICT exports remain unresolved. The US government’s expectation of a “50-50 chip split” has yet to receive a commitment from Taiwan. However, Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te recently sent a positive message in an interview with US media, stating that Taiwan is willing to assist the US in chip production, and that if the US provides policy support, achieving the “50-50 chip split” goal is possible. This marks a significant shift in the government’s stance toward US expectations based on mutual benefits.

IRIS Optronics, a provider of full-color cholesterol liquid crystal display technology, has collaborated with a Japanese electric power company to present smart utility pole displays using full-color electronic paper for the first time in Japan. The demonstration took place along major streets in Hachioji City and the Takao Mountain area.

A major memory shortage is hitting the industry as the supply-demand gap widens. Some upstream memory manufacturers are prioritizing server shipments, while other companies have been aggressively stockpiling due to shortages. Among US-based CSPs, Google and Microsoft have moved the fastest and come out on top. The four major US CSPs have recently begun product validation with Nanya Technology, intending to diversify DDR4 DIMM module supply beyond Korean memory suppliers.