Yesterday, the Trump administration posted notices indicating that it would be proceeding with national security investigations under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 related to imports of semiconductors and semiconductor manufacturing equipment and of pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical ingredients.

In a display of regional solidarity, China, Japan, and South Korea have pledged to deepen their economic cooperation. At the 13th Trilateral Economic and Trade Ministers' Meeting held last weekend in Seoul, the three nations outlined an agenda, encompassing trade agreements and supply chain stability.

The Biden administration started a Section 301 investigation on China's policies and practices in the semiconductor industry, and the Trump administration is continuing it, with a likelihood of a determination that will lead to an additional basis for tariffs or other penalties on China.

China has filed a request for consultations with Canada at the WTO related to Canada's potential tariffs on batteries and battery parts, semiconductors, solar products, and critical minerals, adding to its existing WTO dispute on Canadian tariffs on Chinese imports.

Last week, the Dutch government updated its export control rules governing advanced semiconductor manufacturing equipment. This decision expands the scope of the national export control measures first introduced in 2023.

Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) placed additional Chinese entities on the Entity List, through two separate actions, on the basis of "activities contrary to U.S. national security and foreign policy interests."

China’s Ministry of Commerce provided some updates on several trade remedy cases in recent weeks. In addition, there is an indication that it may start trade remedy investigations on U.S. chips.