Story perspectives

Chinese Firms Innovate with Domestic Chips Amid US Tariff Cuts

1/20/2026

Center

China Telecom Innovates

China Telecom's Institute of Artificial Intelligence says a Chinese developer used Huawei Ascend 910B chips and MindSpore to train TeleChat3 models with a mixture-of-experts (MoE) architecture.
It highlights US-blacklisted Chinese firms using domestic semiconductors.
In Taiwan, the United States deal reduces tariffs from 32% to 15% and could harm the economy.
Netflix shifted to a cash offer for Warner Bros Discovery’s assets at US$82.7 billion to counter Paramount's bid.

Left

Barclays Boosts Taiwan

Barclays PLC raised Taiwan's GDP growth forecast from 1.9% to 3.9% after the trade deal.
The agreement lowers tariffs to 15% and commits US$250 billion in direct investment from Taiwan to the US.
Analysts say the deal could effectively eliminate semiconductor tariffs and strengthen the Taiwan–US partnership.
However, concerns remain about depreciation of the New Taiwan dollar and geopolitical risks, as the currency has fallen 0.6% this year.

History

Historical Context

Taiwan's semiconductor industry began with the 1976 RCA Project, leading to the establishment of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) in 1987. TSMC now produces over 50% of the world's chips, reflecting Taiwan's critical role in global supply chains. Recent partnerships with the U.S. aim to enhance technological independence amid rising tensions with China, underscoring the industry's geopolitical significance.

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China Telecom Innovates

China Telecom's Institute of Artificial Intelligence says a Chinese developer used Huawei Ascend 910B chips and MindSpore to train TeleChat3 models with a mixture-of-experts (MoE) architecture.
It highlights US-blacklisted Chinese firms using domestic semiconductors.
In Taiwan, the United States deal reduces tariffs from 32% to 15% and could harm the economy.
Netflix shifted to a cash offer for Warner Bros Discovery’s assets at US$82.7 billion to counter Paramount's bid.

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