President Donald Trump addressed the media aboard Air Force One late Sunday night, discussing a range of subjects including tariffs, his health examination, Russia, the Masters, and beyond.
President Donald Trump announced that semiconductors and chips imported into the United States will incur specific tariffs, with the exact rate set to be disclosed within a week.
While engaging with reporters on Air Force One on Sunday night, Trump stated that the intention behind the new tariff is to “uncomplicate” trade in the semiconductor industry.
“We aimed to simplify it by removing several complexities, as we want to produce our chips and semiconductors domestically,” Trump remarked while traveling back to Washington, D.C. from West Palm Beach.
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President Donald Trump confirmed that semiconductors and chips coming into the U.S. will face a specific tariff, with details to be released this week. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images / Getty Images)
The inquiries regarding tariffs affecting the semiconductor industry arose following the President’s Truth Social post, which indicated that the National Security Tariff Investigations would include semiconductors and “the WHOLE ELECTRONICS SUPPLY CHAIN.”
In January, the U.S. recorded a negative trade balance of $322 million in the semiconductor sector, exporting $521 million while importing $843 million, as reported by the Observatory of Economic Complexity.
Trump emphasized that the purpose of the imposed tariff on the semiconductor industry is to ensure that crucial technology components, such as chips and semiconductors, are manufactured in the United States. (Stephen Goin / Fox News)
“NOBODY is getting ‘off the hook’ for the unfair trade balances and non-monetary tariff barriers that other countries have utilized against us, especially not China, which treats us the worst!” Trump stated earlier on Sunday.
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He also clarified that he did not declare a general tariff exemption on electronics from China on Friday, asserting that these products still face the current 20% tariff—just not the reciprocal tariffs, which are now at 145%.
In retaliation, Beijing raised its own tariffs on U.S. imports to 125%.
China has implemented a 125% reciprocal tariff on U.S. imports in retaliation for Trump’s tariffs on Chinese goods. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images / Getty Images)
Trump also suggested the potential for additional specific tariffs on drugs and pharmaceuticals, with hopes of encouraging domestic production.
“In situations of war or other crises, it is unwise to depend on China and other countries for our medications, as this could escalate quickly,” the president expressed on AF1.
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His remarks during the flight back to Washington echoed previous statements from his Truth Social post that day, where he stated:
“What we’ve uncovered is the necessity to produce goods in the United States, ensuring we are not held ransom by other nations, particularly hostile trading partners like China, which have consistently shown disrespect towards the American populace. We also cannot allow them to continue their long-standing trade abuses against us—THOSE DAYS ARE OVER!”
