[Young journalist Hojun Lee] U.S. President Donald Trump officially announced on August 6(local time) that he would impose approximately 100 % tariffs on semiconductors. The announcement came during an event at the White House where Apple unveiled its plans to invest in U.S. facilities. Trump declared, “We will impose around 100 % tariffs on all integrated circuits (chips) and semiconductors entering the United States.”

He added, “If you build a manufacturing plant in America, that won’t apply.”

Semiconductors rank as the second-largest export item from South Korea to the U.S., following automobiles, meaning that this policy is expected to have substantial impact for Korea.

According to the Korea International Trade Association, last year South Korea exported $10.6 billion worth of semiconductors to the U.S.—making up 7.5 % of its total U.S.-bound exports. Although this share is lower than those of China (32.8 %), Hong Kong (18.4 %), Taiwan (15.2 %), and Vietnam (12.7 %), a significant portion of Korea’s semiconductor exports to the U.S. passes through intermediary countries such as Taiwan due to assembly and processing arrangements.

Trump did not specify the exact timing for when the semiconductor tariffs would take effect. However, in a CNBC interview the previous day, he indicated that more item-specific tariff announcements—including on semiconductors and pharmaceuticals—would likely come “in the next week or so,” suggesting the possibility that semiconductor tariffs could be unveiled as early as next week.

In addition, Trump announced that, similar to the “secondary tariffs” of 25 % imposed on India for importing Russian oil, he could consider imposing similar tariffs on China, another major energy importer from Russia.

He also noted that Apple CEO Tim Cook was present at the announcement and that Apple would invest $600 billion in the U.S. over the next four years—$100 billion more than initially planned.


▶원문 기사:트럼프 "반도체에 100% 관세 부과"…한국 수출 타격 불가피 (이코노미스트, 2025.8.7) 

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