China and South Korea have pledged to deepen cooperation in semiconductors, batteries and other advanced industries while working more closely to stabilize critical supply chains, after a series of ministerial‑level meetings in Beijing last week.

In a determination last week, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) found that imports of active anode material have not "materially retarded the establishment of an industry in the United States," and therefore rejected the imposition of duties of over 15o%. This determination may indicate the difficulty

Earlier this month, the Trump administration issued long-awaited interim rules to block Chinese companies from accessing billions of dollars in U.S. clean energy tax credits, as part of the implementation of President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

Last week, China's Ministry of Finance announced a plan to adjust value-added tax (VAT) export rebate policies applying to solar and battery products, a move that could cool the price wars and ease trade tensions.

Plans for a Chinese-owned battery component factory in Michigan have now officially fallen through, leading to questions about the extent to which Chinese investment in the U.S. is possible in the current political climate.

Last week, China filed its first ever WTO complaint against India, targeting subsidies in the battery and auto sectors.

Last week, China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) expanded its export control list by adding high-end lithium-ion batteries, advanced cathode and anode materials, superhard materials, manufacturing equipment, and related technology.