The plans for duties 100% of Donald Trump announced in semiconductor imports, while promising to exclude companies such as Apple that carry production back to USAtriggering a turmoil between commercial partners and companies worldwide to understand the threat.
The US president announced his intentions by the Oval Office, framed by her chief executive AppleTim Cook, who revealed plans for investing another $ 100 billion in domestic manufacturing. Any company shows a similar commitment will be excluded from the duties on the chips – although the White House will impose a separate tax on imports of electronic products, from smartphones to cars using semiconductors, according to Bloomberg.
Trump’s unexpected statement further overturns a global electronics supply chain that already has a tectonic change after decades of dependence on China. Apple has been added to a series of companies – by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Until the Nvidia Corp.— who have pledged to invest more than $ 1 trillion since Trump took over, trying to reassure a government determined to reinstate manufacturing within the US. Although much of these commitments are already planned investments or long -term plans, they seem to be giving.
On Thursday, Taiwan’s National Development Council Minister Liu Chin-Ching said TSMC is excluded from 100% US tunnels on chips, although some local companies will be affected. South Korean Commerce Minister YEO HAN-Ku told the local SBS channel that Samsung Electronics Co. chips. and SK Hynix Inc. will not be burdened with these duties. Both South Korean semiconductor companies have announced investments in the US.
“We will impose a very high duty on chips and semiconductors, but the good news for companies such as Apple is that if you build in the United States or you are clearly committed that you will do it, then there will be no burden,” Trump told reporters.
Although the proposed 100% duty far exceeds analysts’ forecasts, the promise of extensive exceptions has reassured markets. US contracts have increased, while Asian technological shares had mixed results. The exception is equivalent to a great victory for Apple and Tim Cook, who were preparing for important tariffs.
From TSMC to Eli Lilly & Co., more than twelve large companies have announced significant investment plans since Trump won the 2024 election, with CEO visiting his resort at Mar-A-Lago in Florida and then the White House.
“The investment disposal has been reinforced by Apple’s $ 100 billion commitment to the US and the relief that the 100% Trump duty on chips is unlikely to disrupt the main supply chains,” said Billy Leung, Global’s Strategic Investment Analyst. “TSMC’s alignment with US facilities plans, coupled with the previous low exposure at Apple, has helped to rise the market.”
But the biggest question may be about Trump’s intentions in terms of electronics, as the US is the largest consumer technology market in the world. The president said he may announce separate duties on all products containing semiconductors from next week, which theoretically includes almost everything, from cars and home appliances to … clock radios.
Apple’s $ 100 billion in addition will include a new manufacturing program designed to bring more than Apple’s production back to the US. Her collaborators in the program are Corning Inc. Glass Manufacturer, Applied Materials Inc. and Texas Instruments Inc.
Corning will dedicate an entire factory to Kentucky to produce glass exclusively for Apple, increasing its labor force in the state by 50%, the iPhone said. Corning was already an Apple supplier, making the glass for the first iPhone at the same factory.
Apple had already committed to investing $ 500 billion in the US in the next four years a slight acceleration over previous investment and plans, with an additional 39 billion in spending and 1,000 new jobs per year. With this announcement, its total commitment reaches $ 600 billion.
The already scheduled 500 billion package includes projects such as a new Servers manufacturing unit in Houston, an Academy of Suppliers in Michigan and additional collaboration with existing company suppliers in the US.
Uncertain effects
The implementation of the Trump decision on duties – which, he said, had not notified the Cook before the announcement – could have a huge impact on the technology industry.
Many of the so -called “manufacturers” do not have their own production units, preferring to assign the construction mainly to the TSMC and, to a lesser extent, to Samsung. Apple announced on Wednesday (6.8.25) that the Samsung plant in Oustin, Texas, will supply chips under the new production program.
Although companies such as Nvidia, whose CEO met on Wednesday with Trump, and AMD have advertised their commitment to supply chips from the new TSMC facilities near Phoenix, there is still no sufficient advanced production capacity outside East Asia, let alone in the US.
Nvidia, like Apple, is committed to spending large sums in the US and boost local commission. However, it remains part of a complex global supply chain that cannot be easily detached and reproduced in the US. This increased commitment is coming while Trump intensifies the imposition of duties, which is expected to increase the cost for Apple throughout the range of its international production.
Trump plans to impose 50% duties on India, one of the key countries for Apple, with the first part coming into force shortly after midnight, along with a number of other duties aimed at reducing commercial deficits. The second part, which punishes India for Russian energy purchases, will be implemented later in the month.
Tim Cook, who watched the president’s swearing -in and donated to his organizing committee, has pushed exemptions for his company’s iPhones. Most of the iPhones sold in the US come from India, while most of its other products, including Apple Watch, iPad and MacBook, are manufactured in Vietnam, which has suffered a 20%duty.
Although the details of the duties and how the criteria for exceptions are fulfilled have not yet been made public, Trump has distinguished Cook’s Apple as an example of how to avoid burden.
Apple’s promising investments, no matter how important they are, do not reach the total transfer of production to the US that Trump and White House officials have envisioned and encouraged. Earlier this year, the president threatened with at least 25% duty to Apple if he did not carry the construction of iPhone to the US – the day after meeting with Cook to the White House.
Cook told the president that the final assembly of the iPhones “will be done elsewhere”, however, stressing that several components are already being manufactured in the US.
Trump, obviously satisfied, praised the plans of the Apple chief.
“Look, it does not make this kind of investment anywhere else in the world, nor in intellect. Apple is returning to America, “the US president told Cook.