Trump's "100% Semiconductor Tariff" Bombshell... Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix on Alert

[Financial News] Donald Trump, the President of the United States, has announced plans to impose a 100% item tariff on all semiconductors imported into the US, and domestic semiconductor companies are closely monitoring the situation. Major companies like Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix are either investing or planning to invest in the US, but they are not expected to be free from the impact of tariffs. 
President Trump announced Apple's new US investment plan at the White House on the 6th (local time), stating that "100% tariffs will be imposed on all semiconductors entering the US." 
President Trump had previously announced item tariffs on steel and automobiles and had warned of tariffs on semiconductors and pharmaceuticals, but this is the first time he has mentioned a specific tariff rate. The 100% tariff is higher than the existing tariffs on items like steel and aluminum (50%), copper (50%), and automobiles (25%). He further emphasized, "If you have promised to build a factory in the US or are currently building one, as many companies are doing, there will be no tariffs." 
Fortunately, Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix are preparing to build or are already building factories in the US. Samsung Electronics is already mass-producing non-memory semiconductors in Austin, Texas, and is currently building a foundry (semiconductor contract manufacturing) plant in Taylor. Recently, they signed a supply contract worth $16.5 billion (about 22.9 trillion won) with Tesla at the new Taylor fab (factory) and decided to produce products. SK Hynix is preparing to build a packaging plant in Arizona, USA. 
However, both companies produce memory semiconductors like DRAM and NAND flash in regions outside the US, such as Korea and China. If these products are exported to the US market, they are expected to be subject to the Trump administration's tariffs. 
A semiconductor industry official said, "We are closely monitoring the trends related to semiconductor tariffs," and added, "As the specific timing and application method of the tariffs have not been disclosed, we plan to respond while closely consulting with our government." 

soup@fnnews.com Im Subin Reporter