semiconductor tariffs

In a surprising move, the Trump administration announced in August 2026 that the U.S. government acquired a 10% stake in chipmaker Intel, valued at approximately $11 billion. This equity was reportedly secured in exchange for federal grants, with President Trump expressing satisfaction with the deal, which he believes strengthens American technological leadership.

According to data compiled by Bloomberg, Taiwan’s overall market capitalisation rose to $4.95 trillion as of Monday, while India’s market value declined to $4.92 trillion.

Global powers are now vying for India's attention, recognizing its growing influence. While the US seeks to bolster trade, India has been actively forging significant trade agreements, positioning itself as a reliable and indispensable partner in a shifting geopolitical landscape.

Chinese President Xi Jinping invoked the "Thucydides Trap" during talks with US President Donald Trump, highlighting concerns that the rising power's growth could lead to conflict with the established dominant power. This theory, popularized by Graham Allison, suggests structural tensions make war more likely, a concept now central to global geopolitical debates involving trade wars and technological competition.

Former NITI Aayog member Arvind Virmani advocates for India to leverage Artificial Intelligence to boost human productivity, not replace workers. He emphasizes combining AI with India's vast workforce, focusing on practical applications in healthcare, education, and agriculture, rather than solely pursuing robotics. Virmani also stresses early AI education integration and government support for AI research and development.

India is pivoting towards Europe as traditional partnerships become unreliable. The burgeoning India-Italy relationship, spearheaded by Prime Ministers Modi and Meloni, is central to this strategy. This partnership is building crucial economic architecture, including the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor and a potential EU Free Trade Agreement, positioning Europe as India's primary strategic focus.

All eyes in Beijing from tomorrow as Xi, Trump navigate trade, tech and geopolitical whirlpools

President Trump's visit to China is overshadowed by the Iran War, which has disrupted global energy supplies and impacted his approval ratings. While trade and Taiwan remain on the agenda, the protracted conflict in Iran presents a significant challenge, with the US struggling to achieve its war aims and facing a decline in superpower status.

China's exports surged 14.1% in April, significantly exceeding expectations and bolstering the nation's economy despite global uncertainties. This strong performance precedes a crucial meeting between US and Chinese leaders, where trade tensions and other disputes are expected to be discussed. Analysts anticipate continued export-driven growth for China this year.

President Trump's Beijing visit concluded without major breakthroughs, highlighting a widening gap in core interests between the US and China. While projecting stability, the meetings revealed limited cooperation on issues like Iran and Taiwan, with trade offering the only tangible deliverables. Both leaders claimed victory, entering a transactional phase focused on leverage.

President Trump's evolving stance on Taiwan ahead of his summit with Xi Jinping sparks concern. Despite a large arms sale, Trump has questioned Taiwan's role in semiconductor business and sought payment for protection. Analysts fear Taiwan could be a bargaining chip, though US officials maintain policy remains unchanged.

And that’s the trap that ‘Philosopher King’ Xi Jinping wants to avoid when coming up against Don Tzu, but who is Thucydides anyway? What trap did he lay? And will the US and China go to war?

Washington isn’t interested in being a guarantor of anything, including energy supplies. New Delhi’s strategic response must centre around the one energy source it has in abundance

Apple posted its best March quarter ever in Q2 FY2026—$111.2 billion in revenue, up 17% year over year, with iPhone sales jumping 22% to $57 billion and Services hitting an all-time high of $31 billion. Every product category and every geographic region grew. The catch: memory costs are rising fast, Mac supply can't keep up with demand, and Tim Cook is handing the CEO role to John Ternus on September 1.

HCLTech shares dropped nearly 11% after the company projected a softer-than-expected outlook, citing muted March quarter performance. CEO C Vijayakumar stated that new-age offerings have offset over two-thirds of AI-led deflation in traditional services, with FY27 revenue guidance set at 1.5-4.5%.

America's massive AI spending is indirectly benefiting China, despite US efforts to restrict its tech access. While Taiwan and South Korea lead in advanced chips, China gains from its role in regional supply chains, exporting components like circuit boards. However, this upside is limited as US-China tech decoupling deepens, potentially reconfiguring supply chains.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung emphasized close collaboration with India as emerging global leaders amidst geopolitical uncertainty. He highlighted shared values and complementary economies, advocating for upgraded trade agreements, defense industrial cooperation, and joint ventures in critical minerals and shipbuilding to foster mutual growth and innovation.

China's export growth significantly decelerated to 2.5% in March, falling short of expectations and marking the weakest performance in six months. This slowdown is attributed to rising global energy costs and supply disruptions stemming from the Middle East conflict. Conversely, imports surged by 27.8%, indicating robust domestic demand despite geopolitical uncertainties.

Three Democratic senators urged President Trump to block Chinese automakers from entering the U.S. market, citing economic and national security risks. They highlighted concerns over unfair competition, state-backed subsidies, and potential data security threats from connected vehicles. The senators also called for preventing Chinese vehicles from entering the U.S. via Canada and Mexico.

US President Donald Trump is set to unveil more details regarding his administration's strategy on semiconductor tariffs on April 14, hinting at significant progress in the ongoing trade dispute with China. Semiconductors have emerged as a key battleground, with existing tariffs causing concerns among US tech firms reliant on Chinese manufacturing.

What does this latest disruption mean for the growth prospects of Asian economies that are in large part dependent on oil and energy imports. Since the start of the Middle East conflict, passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz has been curtailed.