Tariff Policy of the Trump Administration
The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is considering the possibility of introducing a new large-scale round of tariffs on semiconductors. According to data published by Reuters and Politico, the new proposal may include tariffs on chips, laptops, gaming consoles, and servers for data centers. U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Latnik supports a model in which the exemption of foreign companies from tariffs will be linked to their investments in chip manufacturing in the U.S.
A final decision on this matter has not yet been made, and Reuters has not been able to independently verify this information at present. The U.S. administration is considering the possibility of gradually introducing new tariffs, and the structure of the proposal may change significantly in the coming weeks or months. The White House emphasized that bringing critical manufacturing back to the U.S. is one of Trump’s main priorities. As a White House representative noted,
“bringing critical manufacturing back to the U.S. is the main priority of President Trump, and the administration is employing a flexible, thoughtful, and multifaceted approach to stimulate trillions of dollars in voluntary investment in key sectors.”
Expectations and New Initiatives
In May, U.S. Trade Representative Jamison Greer stated that no new American tariffs on semiconductors are expected in the near future. In addition, President Donald Trump signed an order imposing tariffs on the import of drones and their components. According to this order, a 100% tariff will apply to drones weighing over 25 kg and models with thermal imaging capabilities, while a 25% tariff will be set for smaller drones.
Trump also announced plans to increase the global tariff he imposed from 10% to 15% in response to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that deemed the tariff implementation mechanism illegal. The President characterized this ruling as un-American. Additionally, it is worth noting that Trump announced the imposition of a 25% tariff on the import of steel and aluminum without any exemptions for any country.
A White House representative also pointed out that
“if the administration has not officially announced this, any reports about tariffs should be considered as unfounded assumptions.”Thus, the situation regarding new tariffs on technology goods remains uncertain, and further decisions may affect the semiconductor and technology product markets.
The introduction of new tariffs on semiconductors could significantly impact the technology sector, as the U.S. is one of the largest consumers and producers of such components. Given global supply chains, changes in tariff policy could lead to increased prices for electronics and a slowdown in innovation rates in the industry. At the same time, supporting domestic chip manufacturing could contribute to the creation of new jobs in the U.S., which is an important aspect of the Trump administration's economic policy.
As the U.S. administration navigates its tariff policies, it’s important to consider the broader implications of recent judicial decisions on trade. For instance, tariff refunds reaching $100 billion following a Supreme Court ruling highlight the ongoing complexities in the tariff landscape. This context may influence future decisions regarding semiconductor tariffs and other related sectors.