As one of the industries with the highest degree of global industrial chain correlation, electronic components are currently facing a severe impact from international trade policies. The tariff adjustment in the semiconductor sector by the United States in 2025 has brought unprecedented uncertainty to the global supply chain.
Tariff turmoil: A recurring market shock
The US customs briefly exempted the import tariffs on electronic products including semiconductors, but the Trump administration later made it clear that the relevant products were still subject to the 20% fentanyl tariff and would launch a national security investigation based on Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, possibly imposing new tariffs on imported semiconductors. This policy has repeatedly caused market turmoil - American tech companies like Apple and Intel will face the pressure of soaring costs, while major chip production areas such as Taiwan, China, South Korea and Japan will be directly impacted. After all, Taiwan, China, is responsible for over 60% of global chip production and 90% of advanced process capacity.
Supply chain response: Regionalization and self-reliance in parallel
Facing the uncertainty of tariffs, the global industrial chain shows the feature of "regional agglomeration". The United States is attempting to relocate its semiconductor manufacturing industry from Taiwan, China back to its home country. The European Union is accelerating the implementation of the "Chips Act", while China is reducing its reliance on foreign countries through domestic substitution. In fields such as automotive-grade IGBTs and high-end MLCCS, Chinese enterprises have achieved a breakthrough from "import dependence" to "partial substitution". However, the import value of high-end products remains high, reaching 386 billion US dollars in 2024. Independent control remains a long-term issue.
Enterprise strategy: Technological reserves and diversified layout
Leading enterprises are responding to risks through technological innovation and supply chain diversification. Domestic manufacturer Silan Microelectronics has intensified its expansion into high-threshold markets such as automobiles and new energy. Its profit increased by 11 times in the first three quarters, demonstrating the effectiveness of its in-depth cultivation in niche markets. In fields such as RF front-end and power devices, enterprises have reduced their reliance on imported substrates through joint research and development with domestic material manufacturers. Meanwhile, many enterprises have set up packaging and testing bases in Southeast Asia, which not only avoids trade barriers but also closely meets the manufacturing demands of downstream industries, thus forming a layout of "core technologies in the local area and globalized production processes".
