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On March 12, 2026, the US Trade Representative launched investigations covering 60 economies under Section 301(b) of the Trade Act of 1974 to determine whether each economy's acts, policies, and practices — related to a failure to impose and effectively enforce a ban on the importation of goods produced with forced labor — are unreasonable or discriminatory and burden or restrict US commerce....

The global AI server supply chain continues to demonstrate steady growth, according to February 2026 revenue reports from key companies in the testing, design services, and mechanical infrastructure sectors. While seasonal factors such as the Lunar New Year holiday influenced month-over-month figures, significant year-over-year surges underscore a sustained demand for high-performance computing (HPC) and AI applications....

ByteDance, the Chinese technology company best known as the owner of TikTok, is seeking to secure large amounts of advanced artificial intelligence computing power outside China, underscoring the growing geopolitical tensions surrounding the global AI chip supply chain....

The Smart City Summit & Expo and Net Zero City Expo will open next week across Taipei and Kaohsiung, maintaining a dual-city format for 2026 and expanding its focus from net zero and sustainable energy to AI-driven end-user applications....

Tesla's next-generation AI processor schedule change has disrupted Samsung Electronics' foundry timelines, delaying mass-production plans for South Korean startup DeepX's next AI accelerator by roughly six months....

APMIC announced it completed a US$7 million Series A financing round led primarily by Pasadena-based private equity fund AIPO, with participation from companies including Trend Micro....

The Middle East conflict is raising concerns over global energy supply and driving sharp increases in semiconductor material costs. Compound semiconductor manufacturers say prices for high-temperature metals, including tungsten, tantalum, and molybdenum, have doubled, while gallium prices have also surged. At the same time, shortages of indium phosphide (InP) substrates persist due to supply-demand imbalances and geopolitical disruptions such as export controls....

ASIC vendor MicroIP showcased its AIVO visual algorithm technology, CATS chip solutions, and numerous EDA tools from affiliate Arculus at Embedded World 2026. The company highlighted a drone controller enhanced by AIVO to improve flight control efficiency, notably emphasizing that the entire product is made in Taiwan, offering a market advantage....

Server chassis manufacturer Chenbro Micom said demand from artificial intelligence applications continues to accelerate data center construction in the first half of 2026, supporting a recovery in the general-purpose server market and sustaining steady operational growth....

On March 10, 2026, the US International Trade Commission (USITC) announced the launch of a Section 337 investigation targeting 20 automotive parts manufacturers across Taiwan, China, and the US. The probe follows a lawsuit filed by General Motors (GM) and includes 10 leading Taiwanese aftermarket (AM) suppliers such as Tong Yang Industry, DEPO Auto Parts, and Gordon Auto Body Parts. This unexpected patent litigation has come as a shock to Taiwan's automotive collision parts exporters, and also signals a shifting competitive landscape in the global automotive supply chain....

Acerpure has introduced a new range of air conditioners in New Delhi as it moves to deepen its presence in India's home appliance sector, riding rising demand driven by soaring summer temperatures and growing household air conditioner penetration....

To align with the industry trend of hardware-software integration, industrial PC (IPC) maker Flytech has invested in AI software development since 2019. After years of development, its three software subsidiaries all delivered strong performances in 2025, boosting the related revenue share from 0.1% in 2023 to about 2%, a more than 20-fold increase....

China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) has issued a rare monitoring report warning that rising memory prices are spreading across the electronics supply chain as tight supply and strong demand push up DRAM and NAND flash prices....

The Middle East conflict and rising AI data center demand have intensified raw material shortages and price hikes across the supply chain. Manufacturers increasingly adopt a "shift-to-client procurement" strategy, transferring volatile material purchasing risks to clients with stronger bargaining power....

Japan Display Inc. (JDI) has decided not to establish a new wholly owned subsidiary for its AutoTech automotive display business, the company disclosed on March 12, 2026. The decision is subject to approval at JDI's annual general meeting scheduled for June 24, 2026....

Lite-On Technology expects demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure to remain resilient through 2026, even as escalating tensions between the US and Iran weigh on the global economic outlook, according to company president Anson Chiu....

South Korea's National Assembly approved the Special Act on Investment in the US on March 12, 2026, authorizing US$350 billion in strategic investments and creating a state-backed corporation to manage the program, according to Yonhap and Hangyung....

Wistron announced plans to increase investments by up to NT$1.82 billion (approx. US$57.13 million) to improve buildings and acquire equipment for its Hsinchu facility in Taiwan, in response to growing demand driven by artificial intelligence (AI)....

Unmanned vehicles, including military and commercial drones, drew strong attention at Embedded World 2026 in Nuremberg, Germany. Compared with the humanoid robot focus seen at other exhibitions, IC design companies and integrated device manufacturers (IDMs) highlighted drone-related technologies and solutions, underscoring drones as an important application area within industrial control and Internet of Things (IoT) systems....

Surging demand for unmanned vehicles is driving renewed interest in lightweight materials, as endurance limitations remain a key obstacle to large-scale commercialization. The trend is pushing the use of carbon fiber composites beyond traditional aerospace and high-end sports equipment applications and into the core supply chains of drones and robotics....