Former U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that he plans to unveil new tariffs targeting the semiconductor sector within the coming week. This move is part of his broader strategy to implement aggressive trade measures aimed at addressing longstanding concerns over U.S. trade imbalances, particularly with China.
“These tariffs will be rolled out in the near future,” Trump stated, noting that the semiconductor duties would follow similar actions previously taken on steel, aluminum, and automobiles. When asked about the specific tariff rate for semiconductors, he responded, “That will be announced sometime next week.”
Earlier in the day, Trump emphasized that no nation would be exempt from the tariff regime. His administration clarified that any temporary exemptions—such as those affecting smartphones, laptops, and semiconductors—should not be interpreted as permanent, especially with China in focus.
The U.S. and China have remained locked in a tense trade standoff, marked by escalating retaliatory tariffs. Washington’s levies on Chinese imports have soared to 145%, while Beijing has hit back with a 125% tariff band on U.S. goods.
Although a brief easing was observed when the U.S. excluded certain tech products from the tariff list on Friday, Trump and his aides insisted these reliefs are only short-term. Tech giants like Apple, Nvidia, and Dell stand to benefit from the temporary reprieve, given their heavy reliance on Chinese manufacturing.
China’s Commerce Ministry dismissed the exemptions as a minor gesture, urging the U.S. to abandon its broader tariff strategy entirely. Meanwhile, Trump doubled down on his stance, posting on Truth Social, “NOBODY is getting ‘off the hook’… especially not China, which treats us the worst by far!”
The administration’s evolving tariff policy underscores its intent to exert continued economic pressure, even on sectors that could impact American businesses and consumers. The coming days will be critical in determining how these new semiconductor tariffs reshape the already fraught U.S.-China trade dynamics.
