Amid a series of crucial announcements that are shaking the global tech sector, South Korea has revealed that Samsung and SK Hynix will not be subject to the new 100% tariffs on semiconductors, a measure proposed by former President Donald Trump. This development adds to the exemptions previously granted to giants such as NVIDIA, Apple, and TSMC, underscoring a clear pattern: manufacturers that make significant investments in the United States will avoid these punitive tariffs.
In the morning hours, Trump set off alarm bells with the announcement of 100% tariffs on imported chips, aiming to promote technological self-sufficiency and reduce dependence on Asia. However, it was quickly clarified that the companies that were already building or planned to build factories on U.S. soil would be exempt.
Shortly afterward, it was confirmed that NVIDIA and Apple were officially exempt. In a strategic move, Apple revealed a robust investment plan of 600 billion dollars over four years, aimed at establishing a complete supply chain in the United States. UU., that would include from silicon wafers to the final assembly for their products.
The confirmation from South Korea assures that Samsung and SK Hynix will also not face these tariffs. According to official reports, both companies have multimillion-dollar expansion plans in the U.S. UU. Samsung plans to invest $45 billion by 2030 in the construction of two manufacturing plants, an R&D center, and a packaging facility. SK Hynix, for its part, will allocate $3.87 billion in Indiana for an advanced packaging plant and a research center.
With these exemptions, South Korean companies not only avoid significant economic impacts, but also strengthen their role in the U.S. technology supply chain. UU. However, not everyone has had the same luck. Companies such as SMIC from China, UMC from Taiwan, and Rapidus from Japan are on the list of those who could still be affected by tariffs, as they do not have a significant industrial presence in the United States.
The announcement emphasizes a new geopolitical dynamic around semiconductors, where design, production, and, above all, the security of sovereign supply chains have become crucial objectives. For the United States, reducing strategic dependence on East Asia, particularly China, is a priority in critical industries such as artificial intelligence, defense, and telecommunications.
This move complements other U.S. initiatives, such as the CHIPS and Science Act, which offers $52 billion in subsidies and tax credits to promote domestic semiconductor manufacturing.
Although 100% tariffs may seem severe, in practice they function as a veiled incentive. They reward those who invest in the United States and punish those who do not align with this new strategic vision, accelerating a reordering of the semiconductor ecosystem where access to the U.S. market depends increasingly on producing within its borders.
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