P5 Platform
China Expands Export Controls on Middle and Heavy Rare Earth Elements
On October 9, 2025, China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) and the General Administration of Customs issued Announcement No. 57, formally expanding export controls to certain rare earth elements, also known as rare earths or REEs. This measure is one of six new regulations expanding China’s…
Long Beach Cargo Spill Impacts Supply Chain
This week, an incident at the Port of Long Beach caused many shipping containers to fall into the water. This has raised concerns for industries that rely on global supply chains. This disruption at one of the busiest ports in the United States could have…
Copper Tariff Announcement May Increase Electronic Component Costs
On Tuesday, July 8th, the U.S. Administration announced a potential 50% tariff on imported copper, according to Reuters. While the actual rate and effective date have yet to be released, the announcement alone has led to a visible increase of over 12%, a record high,…
Rare Earth Elements: Finding Components That Minimize Impacts from Trade Restrictions
The supply of rare earth elements that are critical to manufacturing electronic components is being constrained by trade restrictions. The volatility and nuances of these trade restrictions are creating a need for rework and multi-scenario planning for supply-chain managers, procurement, component engineers and design engineers…
Navigating Changing Tariffs in the Electronic Components Supply Chain
Recently, rapid changes to tariff policy have created new challenges for manufacturers navigating the electronic components supply chain. In recent weeks, supply chain and procurement managers have had to assess the impact of both broad-sweeping and industry-targeted tariffs, a task made more difficult by ongoing…
China Bans Export of Gallium, Germanium, Antimony, & Graphite Materials to the United States
China recently announced a ban on the export of key raw materials: gallium, germanium, antimony, and graphite. These elements are critical in the manufacturing of various high-tech electronic components, and the world’s reliance on Chinese supplies makes this development particularly significant. The timing of the…
Proposed New Tariffs Threaten Higher Electronic Component Prices in 2025
New tariffs proposed by the incoming Trump Administration could lead to higher electronic component prices in 2025. President-elect Donald Trump has announced he would impose new tariffs when he takes office, targeting the United States’ biggest trade partners – Canada, Mexico, and China. While the…
Typhoon Gaemi Disrupts Supply Chain in Taiwan and China
On July 25th, Typhoon Gaemi ripped through Taiwan and China’s Fujian coastline, disrupting the supply chain with rough seas, power outages, and flooding in its wake. The typhoon was one of the strongest to hit Taiwan in eight years with wind gusts up to 141…
Samsung Labor Strike Targets High-Powered AI Memory Chips
The recent 2024 Samsung labor strike has been brooding for some time. Samsung Electronics’ South Korean labor union is now threatening to disrupt high-power AI chip production as part of an ongoing labor strike. On July 10th, the National Samsung Electronics Union announced it would…
Latest Updates: Taiwan Earthquake Impact on Semiconductor Supply Chain
Latest update April 12th. Original article published on April 4th A 7.4 magnitude earthquake shook Taiwan on Wednesday, threatening the supply chain for 92% of the globe’s advanced semiconductors. The quake struck at around 8 am local time just 11 miles southwest of Hualien City….