Google has reported a decline in advertising purchases from several of its Asian clients, likely including major Chinese e-tailers. During Alphabet’s third-quarter earnings call last week, Chief Business Officer Philipp Schindler addressed this issue, stating, “In retail, some of our APAC advertisers were impacted by the EU eliminating its de minimis exemption.”
This change refers to recent adjustments in European Union customs duties, which now impose a temporary €3 duty on consignment shipments valued under €150. Previously, the EU’s de minimis exemption allowed for nearly 5.9 billion low-value items to be imported without incurring such fees in 2025 alone. The new policy aims to safeguard European retailers from low-cost imports.
Chinese companies, such as Temu, Shein, and Alibaba, are significant contributors to this market and are believed to generate about 10 percent of the advertising revenue for both Google and Meta. Consequently, the new EU rules are influencing Google’s advertising growth negatively.
Amid these discussions, various other industry developments have emerged. In a separate incident, Huawei faces scrutiny over safety concerns with its electric vehicle, the Maextro V800, produced in collaboration with Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Group Co. (JAC). A review by Chinese automotive site Dongchedi highlighted a malfunction where the brake pedal bracket broke during acceleration tests. Although drivers could still stop the vehicle, the situation raised alarms about safety.
Reports indicate that negative coverage of the vehicle may have been suppressed online, suggesting possible pushback from authorities regarding unfavorable assessments of domestic technology companies.
In another major story, the FBI has identified a North Korean cybercrime group known as “TraderTraitor” as responsible for a recent high-profile attack on the cryptocurrency exchange Binance. The FBI’s announcement followed an investigation by the cyber-defense firm TRM, which registered billions of dollars leaving Binance wallets shortly after the incident. Binance initially attributed the breach to a single compromised device but has since discovered additional vulnerabilities.
North Korea is known to engage in cyber theft to support its government operations, particularly for military funding. In the meantime, Binance assures its users that the platform remains secure and is committed to making good on any losses.
Shifting focus to the tech industry, Samsung announced remarkable profits last week, reporting third-quarter revenue of ₩195.3 trillion (approximately $146.2 billion) and an operating profit of ₩107 trillion ($80 billion). The company’s semiconductor division accounted for a significant portion of this income, with expectations for continued growth fueled by demand for advanced chip technology and new mobile products.
Meanwhile, Dr. Rachid Yazami, noted for his development of lithium-ion battery technology, unveiled a new fast-charging battery capable of reaching 70 percent charge in under four minutes. His startup KVI claims this innovative lithium iron phosphate battery cell utilizes a unique voltage-controlled charging approach. Testing partnerships are being initiated with companies like Japan’s SkyDrive, focusing on electric-powered vehicles.
