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Taiwan Adds Huawei and SMIC to Strategic Export Control List Amid Security Concerns

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Taiwan has placed China’s tech giants Huawei Technologies and Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC) on its export control list, requiring Taiwanese firms to obtain government approval before exporting any products to these companies.

The additions were part of a recent update to the Ministry of Economic Affairs’ trade administration strategic high-tech commodities entity list, announced on June 10. Alongside Huawei and SMIC, the update included 601 entities from countries such as Russia, Pakistan, Iran, Myanmar, and China, including groups like the Taliban and al Qaeda.

Taiwan’s trade administration stated the review and update were driven by “prevention of arms proliferation and other national security considerations.” It urged manufacturers to comply with export control regulations, fulfill verification obligations, and carefully assess transaction risks.

Taiwan is home to TSMC, the world’s largest contract chipmaker and a key supplier to AI leader Nvidia. Both Huawei and SMIC are pivotal to China’s ambitions in chips and artificial intelligence and have been striving to close the technology gap.

Taiwan already enforces strict chip export controls on Taiwanese companies that manufacture domestically or supply Chinese firms, reflecting ongoing tensions between Taipei and Beijing, which claims Taiwan as its territory.

Huawei is also subject to U.S. export restrictions barring access to American and foreign-made goods involving U.S. technology, including chips manufactured by TSMC. Last year, TSMC was ordered by the U.S. Commerce Department to halt shipments of certain chips to Chinese customers, including Huawei and Sophgo, a Chinese chip designer linked to Huawei’s AI processor.

Taiwan’s government has repeatedly pledged to combat Chinese efforts to steal technology and attract Taiwanese chip talent, emphasizing the strategic importance of the semiconductor sector.

SMIC, China’s largest chipmaker, continues to invest heavily to expand capacity amid U.S. export curbs, aiming to boost China’s domestic semiconductor capabilities.

Global EV Sales Jump 24% in May as China Reaches Record High

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Global electric and plug-in hybrid vehicle (EV) sales surged by 24% in May year-over-year, according to market research firm Rho Motion. The strong performance was led by China, where monthly EV sales exceeded one million units for the first time this year, driven by robust domestic demand and aggressive export strategies.

Chinese automaker BYD played a key role in expanding EV sales, exporting large volumes to markets such as Mexico, Southeast Asia, and Uzbekistan. “BYD’s exports to Mexico and Southeast Asia, along with Uzbekistan, have significantly boosted sales in these regions,” noted Charles Lester, data manager at Rho Motion.

In Europe, fleet incentives in Germany and strong growth in Southern European markets contributed to a 36.2% rise in EV sales, reaching 330,000 units. However, North America showed more modest growth, with sales increasing just 7.5% to 160,000 units, partly due to the expiration of Canadian subsidies and broader policy uncertainties.

Global automakers continue to face challenges in the U.S., where new 25% import tariffs have prompted several companies to reconsider their 2025 forecasts. Tesla’s Berlin-based Model Y production remains shielded from these tariffs, but the company faces intensifying global competition as production volumes increase worldwide.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump’s policies on emissions standards and tariff uncertainties have further slowed EV adoption in North America. U.S. tax credits for EVs remain in place but are scheduled to begin phasing out in 2026, adding another layer of hesitation for potential buyers.

By the numbers, global sales of battery-electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids totaled 1.6 million units in May. China’s sales grew over 24% year-over-year to 1.02 million vehicles. Europe recorded a 36.2% increase, while North America lagged with a 7.5% gain. The rest of the world saw a 38% rise, reaching 150,000 vehicles.

Summing up the global picture, Charles Lester stated, “The story this month with global vehicle sales is the continued chasm between Chinese market growth versus the faltering market in North America.”

China Postpones Approval of $35 Billion Synopsys-Ansys Merger Amid Rising Trade Tensions

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China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) has delayed its approval of the $35 billion merger between U.S. software companies Synopsys and Ansys, according to a Financial Times report on Friday. The move comes after U.S. President Donald Trump tightened export controls targeting China’s access to advanced semiconductor design software and other sensitive technologies.

The delay underscores the escalating trade tensions between the world’s two largest economies, even as they reached a tentative trade truce during talks in London earlier this week. The current dispute follows China’s previous curbs on mineral exports, prompting the Trump administration to respond with additional restrictions. These include stricter controls on exports of semiconductor design software — a key area of Synopsys’s business — as well as jet engines and various advanced goods destined for China.

The Synopsys-Ansys merger had reached the final stage of the Chinese regulatory process and was widely expected to receive approval by the end of June. However, U.S. actions in late May banning chip design software sales to China added new complications to the review, according to sources cited by the Financial Times.

Neither Synopsys nor Ansys have publicly commented on the reported delay. Reuters, which also attempted to verify the report, said Synopsys declined to comment, while Ansys and Chinese regulators have not responded to inquiries.

The Trump administration’s latest export controls form part of a broader strategy aimed at limiting China’s access to technologies that could enhance its semiconductor manufacturing capabilities and, potentially, its military strength. Washington has also revoked export licenses previously granted to certain suppliers, significantly tightening restrictions on U.S. technology shipments to China.

In a separate development, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) last month required Synopsys and Ansys to divest certain assets to address domestic antitrust concerns related to the merger. Synopsys CEO has previously confirmed that the company has obtained regulatory clearances for the deal in all jurisdictions except China.

The $35 billion merger, if completed, would combine two of the most important players in electronic design automation (EDA) and engineering simulation software — sectors crucial for the development of next-generation semiconductors and complex industrial systems.