Top 3 tech, startup and sustainability stories of the week, 7th

This week’s stories come from Germany, Korea and the USA, covering tech and sustainability

1-Trump’s tariffs hit smartphone supply chains, Samsung gains advantage over Apple

US President Donald Trump’s “reciprocal” tariffs put on hold for most countries for 90 days, as everyone talks about US-China commercial relations. Those tariffs, ranging from 40 to 50 percent, are shaking up the global smartphone industry, putting pressure on major players Samsung Electronics and Apple. As tariffs affect all countries in the supply chains of both companies, there is growing concern over how this will impact their competition, with some experts predicting that Samsung could gain a significant advantage over Apple.

I saw this story at Korea Herald and Samsung’s diversified manufacturing footprint may position it more favorably compared to Apple, which remains heavily reliant on China for iPhone production. Samsung currently manufactures more than half of its smartphones in Vietnam, where the tariff rate is 43 percent under Trump’s latest measures. Other countries like India, Brazil, Indonesia, and South Korea also host Samsung factories, with tariffs ranging from 10 percent to 32 percent. In contrast, Apple produces approximately 90 percent of its iPhones in China, facing a hefty 54 percent effective tariff after combining Trump’s 34 percent tariff and the existing 20 percent tariff, according to the story.

Analysts predict that if Apple decides to pass these costs onto consumers, iPhone prices could rise dramatically. The new iPhone 16 Pro Max, with advanced features like a 6.9-inch display and 1 terabyte of storage, could see its price jump to nearly $2,300 — a 43 percent increase from its current price. Even the base model could soar from $799 to as high as $1,142.

For Samsung, experts suggest shifting production to countries with lower tariffs, such as Brazil or South Korea, to offset the increased costs of manufacturing in Vietnam.

Trump’s tariffs hit smartphone supply chains, Samsung gains advantage over Apple

2-AI could hit 40% of jobs, says UN report

Artificial intelligence (AI) is expected to soar to a staggering $4.8 trillion in market value by 2033, rivaling the size of Germany’s economy, according to a new report by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

Released last week, the report highlights how AI is transforming industries and driving productivity worldwide. However, UNCTAD cautions that up to 40% of global jobs could be impacted by AI-driven automation, potentially leading to widespread displacement, especially in developing economies.(By the way I have a story here about Turkiye’s tech visa for startups)

UNCTAD’s analysis also draws attention to a growing concentration of AI development and investment among a small group of companies and nations. According to U.N. data, 40% of global corporate R&D spending on AI is dominated by just 100 firms, primarily based in the United States and China. Tech giants like Apple, Nvidia, and Microsoft now hold market values comparable to the entire GDP of Africa, underscoring the vast imbalance in technological power.

This concentration, the agency warns, threatens to widen the gap between nations, particularly as 118 countries — mainly from the Global South — remain excluded from key global AI governance discussions.

Still, the report isn’t entirely pessimistic. UNCTAD emphasizes that AI has the potential to create new industries and empower workers — if governments invest in education, upskilling, and reskilling.

.AI could hit 40% of jobs (Image: Getty Images)

3-Deutsche Bank fined $27 million over misleading ESG claims

Deutsche Bank’s asset management arm, DWS Group, has been fined €25 million (approx. $27 million) by German authorities for exaggerating its environmental, social, and governance (ESG) credentials in marketing materials.

I saw this story at ESG Dive and The Frankfurt Public Prosecutor’s Office announced Wednesday that it, in coordination with the Federal Criminal Police Office in Wiesbaden, concluded that DWS had misrepresented itself as a leader in sustainable finance. Phrases such as “ESG leader” and claims that ESG principles were part of the company’s “DNA” were found to be misleading and not fully supported by the firm’s internal practices.

“The impression conveyed to the capital markets regarding DWS Group’s purported leadership in sustainable financial products was not—or not fully—reflected in its actual operations,” the statement said.

The fine was calculated based on the revenue of Deutsche Bank, DWS’s parent company. DWS accepted the penalty the same day and stated it would not affect the firm’s Q1 2025 earnings, as provisions had already been made.

“In recent years, we have acknowledged that our past marketing may have been overly enthusiastic,” DWS said in an April 2 statement. “We’ve strengthened our internal controls and documentation processes and fully cooperated with authorities throughout the investigation.”

The enforcement mirrors similar action taken by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in 2023, when DWS was fined for failing to meet ESG standards it had publicly touted. The SEC accused DWS Investment Management Americas of misleading clients about how ESG factors were integrated into investment decisions, according to the story.