Trump Says U.S. Will Charge 100% Tariffs On Imported Chips And Semiconductors

Topline
President Donald Trump announced Wednesday a 100% tariff on chips and semiconductors, saying companies like Apple would receive exemptions for producing goods in the U.S.
Key Facts
Trump said the 100% tariff on all chips and semiconductors being exported to the U.S. could be avoided by companies if they have “made a commitment to build or if you are in the process of building” manufacturing plants on U.S. soil.
The president added companies that do not follow through on commitments will be retroactively charged, adding “that’s a guarantee."
Trump discussed the tariff rate while announcing an additional $100 billion manufacturing investment from Apple in the U.S., making the tech giant immune to the 100% chip tariffs just a few months after it secured tariff exemptions on iPhones—most of which are manufactured in China and other parts of Asia.
Apple's newest manufacturing investment brings its commitment to the U.S. to $600 billion, adding factories and training facilities to states like Texas, Michigan and Kentucky, the latter state of which will begin manufacturing coverglass for all iPhones and Apple Watches, Cook said.
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Tangent
Trump was asked during Wednesday’s announcement whether Vice President JD Vance planned on bringing together White House officials to discuss the Epstein files, the handling of which the Trump administration has been blasted for recently. Vance said the administration was not meeting to talk about the Epstein files, before Trump called the matter a “hoax,” adding it is “just a way to divert attention to something that is total bulls—.”
Key Background
Trump’s tariff on semiconductors follows attempts by the Biden administration to similarly create a more robust tech manufacturing presence in the U.S., which has lagged behind Taiwan and China in semiconductor production. Semiconductors are electronic components essential to phones, computers, medical equipment, vehicles and more. Tech is one of several sectors included within Trump’s push for increased domestic manufacturing, as the president has announced multibillion-dollar investments from companies like OpenAI, Oracle and Softbank, which are slated to increase their cumulative investment in AI data centers to $500 billion. Google and investment management firm Blackstone have also committed $50 billion worth of investments to the U.S. for data centers and infrastructure. The president has levied tariffs as an attempt to bolster manufacturing in the U.S., recently reaching reduced tariff deals with trading partners including Japan (15%), the U.K. (10%) and the European Union (15%).
Further Reading
These Are The Trump Tariffs Launching Friday: Far Short Of The 90 Promised Deals (Forbes)
Apple Invests Another $100 Billion Into The U.S., Trump Says—As Shares Jump 5% (Forbes)