EU and Japan Establish Strategic Alliance to Secure Semiconductor Supply Chains
Brussels, Tuesday 5 May 2026
On 4 May 2026, the EU and Japan forged new frameworks to accelerate joint semiconductor research and pioneer hybrid quantum computing, combatting critical global supply chain vulnerabilities.
Market Realities and the Brussels Summit
These new frameworks emerge against the backdrop of a surging global semiconductor market that shows no signs of cooling. During the first quarter of 2026, worldwide chip sales reached $298.5 billion, representing a 25% increase compared to the final quarter of 2025 [6]. The momentum was particularly evident in March 2026, when global sales hit $99.5 billion, up from $55.5 billion in March 2025, reflecting a staggering 79.279% year-on-year increase [6]. With global sales firmly on track to reach the $1 trillion milestone this year, European sales specifically saw a robust year-on-year growth of 46.5% in March [6]. To capitalise on this growth, the fourth EU-Japan Digital Partnership Council in Brussels formalised agreements to deepen regulatory cooperation across these critical technologies, including digital infrastructure and artificial intelligence [1][2].