On the 2nd (local time), U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Rittenkien said that the imposition of tariffs on semiconductor products is under consideration.
During an interview with CNBC at the G20 Innovation Ministers’ Meeting held in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Secretary Rottnick said that, in relation to semiconductor tariffs, they would adopt a “targeted and thoughtful tariff policy.”
Secretary Runtunic said, "Basically, if you produce here (in the U.S.), you do not pay tariffs. However, it was explained as a policy that says, “If you do not produce here, be prepared to pay a price (tariffs) to enter the world’s greatest market.”
Regarding reports that the imposition of tariffs on semiconductors would be "high-intensity" and that the structure would link U.S. investment in semiconductor manufacturing with tariffs, Secretary Rottnik confirmed, "That is exactly correct."
Earlier, Politico cited sources saying that the option the U.S. government is considering involves significantly broadening the range of products subject to semiconductor tariffs, and that it could include not only semiconductors themselves but also various finished products that use semiconductors, such as laptops, game consoles, and data center servers.
Politico reported that ideas being discussed include setting tariff rates and quotas by country and applying country-specific guidelines to major semiconductor manufacturers.
Secretary Rottnik said, “We have granted tariff relief benefits to companies that produce innovative medicines in the United States and implement MFN (Most-Favored-Nation pricing). He said, “You can expect that kind of approach regarding semiconductors as well.”
He said that this policy is already proving effective, adding, "TSMC is building a $265 billion semiconductor plant in Arizona, and Micron is constructing a $250 billion memory plant." These two companies alone exceed $500 billion. He emphasized, "That is exactly how Trump's tariff policy is working."
It went on to say, “We have secured a $1.2 trillion investment commitment to produce semiconductors in the United States,” adding, “When we entered, the United States accounted for less than 2% of global semiconductor production.” Now we are heading toward 40%, and if Intel succeeds, we will reach 50% by the time we leave,” he predicted.
Secretary Runtunic also indicated that the Taiwanese government would, “in my view, announce next week an additional investment plan worth $20 to $30 billion in the United States.”
Earlier, starting in January, the U.S. government began imposing semiconductor tariffs first on a very small number of specific goods.
At the same time, it has signaled the possibility of expanding tariff application across the semiconductor industry in the future.
In January, President Trump signed a proclamation imposing a 25% tariff on semiconductors imported into the United States, such as Nvidia’s AI semiconductor chip “H200,” but then re-exported to other countries.
At the time, the White House stated, "President Trump may impose broader tariffs on imports of semiconductors and their derivatives in the near future to encourage domestic manufacturing, and may introduce a corresponding tariff offset program."
In May, U.S. Trade Representative Jamie Mee said that a comprehensive tariff imposition on semiconductors would be implemented at an appropriate time, and that semiconductor companies relocating production facilities to the United States would be allowed to import a certain volume.
Lim Kyung-seop ([email protected] )
It seems they still hold the illusion that American manufacturing can be revived.
Of course, Samsung and Hynix will also make investments in the United States.
It seems best to include this in the investment in the United States agreed upon with Trump.
And, in the end, despite all these efforts,
American manufacturing will fail again.
