Week in Review: Most popular stories on GeekWire for the week of May 4, 2025
Get caught up on the latest technology and startup news from the past week. Here are the most popular stories on GeekWire for the week of May 4, 2025.
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Most popular stories on GeekWire
Statsig lands $100M at $1.1B valuation, aiming to unify product development as AI upends industry
We have a new unicorn. Four years after it was founded by a former Facebook engineering leader, Statsig has raised $100 million at a $1.1 billion valuation, accelerating its efforts to unify product development tools as AI reshapes how software behaves and gets built. … Read More
Lawmaker behind controversial 'Tesla tax' explains why Washington is targeting EV credits
Critics of a Washington tax that would largely impact Tesla accuse the state's Democratic lawmakers of taking punitive action against Elon Musk, dubbing it the 'Tesla tax.' The state leader behind the controversial legislation says that's patently false. … Read More
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Yahoo
31 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Huawei Founder Dismisses U.S. Export Control Concerns
U.S. chip restrictions won't have an impact on Huawei Technologies, its founder has said, dismissing concerns that it will be squeezed by export controls.
Yahoo
42 minutes ago
- Yahoo
US retailers speed up imports before China tariff hits
Import volumes at major US container ports are projected to rise significantly this summer, as retailers move quickly to bring in goods ahead of the expiry of temporary tariff reductions on Chinese imports. According to the latest Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates, importers are taking advantage of a 90-day suspension in newly imposed tariffs to stock up for the back-to-school and holiday seasons. Following the Biden administration's 90-day pause on the recently introduced 145% tariff on Chinese imports—now temporarily reduced to 30% until 12 August—retailers have resumed import orders previously halted due to cost concerns. The decision to suspend the reciprocal tariffs, which also affect other trading nations, has created a narrow window for businesses to move goods before full tariff enforcement resumes. 'This is a crucial period for retail supply chains,' said Jonathan Gold, Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy at NRF. 'Importers are racing to bring in merchandise before the current tariff relief expires, aiming to avoid future price increases and ensure shelves are stocked for key sales periods.' Final figures for April show that ports processed 2.21 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEU), marking a 2.9% increase from March and a 9.6% rise year over year. However, May imports are projected to have declined sharply, falling to an estimated 1.91 million TEU. This would represent a 13.4% drop from April and an 8.1% decrease from May 2024—the first year-on-year drop since September last year. June and July are expected to see a modest recovery as retailers capitalise on the tariff pause. June volumes are forecast at 2.01 million TEU, still down 6.2% compared to last year, while July could reach 2.13 million TEU, down 8.1%. August is projected to record a steeper year-over-year decline of 14.7%, at 1.98 million TEU. Analysts warn that the current import surge is likely to be short-lived. Without an extension to the tariff relief, import volumes are expected to fall sharply from September onward. September TEUs are forecast at 1.78 million, down 21.8% from the same month in 2024. October is expected to see a similar decline, with 1.8 million TEU anticipated—a 19.8% year-over-year drop. Ben Hackett, founder of Hackett Associates, noted that the recent spike in import activity is being driven by temporary tariff policies rather than sustained demand. 'The tariff pause is creating a false peak,' Hackett said. 'Once it ends, we expect a pronounced drop in shipping volumes for the remainder of the year.' For the first half of 2025, total import cargo volume is projected at 12.54 million TEU, a 3.7% increase over the same period in 2024. While this figure is an improvement over earlier forecasts made before the tariff pause, it still lags behind projections made prior to the introduction of the April tariffs. The situation remains fluid as the US administration continues trade negotiations, leaving retailers and port operators uncertain about future tariff levels and their impact on supply chain stability. "US retailers speed up imports before China tariff hits" was originally created and published by Retail Insight Network, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Torched driverless taxis prompt Waymo to stop downtown L.A. service
After five of Waymo's driverless taxis went up in flames Sunday during anti-ICE protests in downtown Los Angeles, costing the company hundreds of thousands of dollars, questions remain about how the vehicles made their way into the area. Waymo eventually suspended service downtown after officials with the Los Angeles Police Department reportedly advised the company to do so. In footage captured by KTLA, a row of vehicles on North Los Angeles Street, near Arcadia Street, all tagged with graffiti, were seen fully engulfed in flames as dense black smoke thickened the air, while many of those on the street continued to vandalize and photograph them. While it's unclear exactly how protesters started the car fires, there were reports that spray paint was used as an accelerant, with video capturing at least one of the autonomous vehicles exploding. Police eventually closed Los Angeles Street north of Arcadia and South Alameda Streets and declared an unlawful assembly. Los Angeles Police Department Captain Erik Scott said that battery systems in electric vehicles are often difficult to apply water to during a fire and especially in the chaotic environment of Sunday evening's violent demonstrations. The department, according to Scott, had to just allow the cars to burn, which caused an increased threat to public health. L.A. driver goes on high-speed rampage amid violent downtown protests 'When lithium-ion batteries burn, they release hydrogen-fluoride gas that is a highly toxic substance that could damage your lungs and can be absorbed through the skin,' Scott explained. 'It can cause serious internal harm.' According to a 2024 report by the Wall Street Journal, analysts estimated that Waymo's driverless cars cost between $150,000 and $200,000 each. With the five destroyed robotaxis, the cost of damages would amount to roughly between $750,000 to $1 million, based on WSJ's estimate. As for how the Waymo taxis made their way downtown to begin with, investigators and the company are looking into whether protesters may have used the app to order up the cars and light them on fire or, as other have speculated, protesters intercepted the vehicles from customers attempting to flee the area. The company that the suspended downtown service may lead to increased wait times in other areas of L.A. and that as of right now, there is word on when service will resume in the area. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
