U.S. President Trump. Yonhap News. 

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on the 6th (local time) that he would impose a tariff of about 100% on semiconductors.

Speaking at an event at the White House on the same day to announce Apple's U.S. facility investment plan, President Trump said, "We will impose a tariff of about 100% on semiconductors," adding that "all integrated circuits (chips) and semiconductors entering the United States" would be subject to the tariff.

President Trump added, "If you build (a semiconductor manufacturing plant) in the United States, it will not be imposed."

Semiconductors are the second-largest export item to the U.S. from South Korea, following automobiles, so considerable impact on South Korea is anticipated.

According to the Korea International Trade Association, South Korea's semiconductor exports to the U.S. reached $10.6 billion (approximately 114.7 trillion won) last year.

Nominally, the proportion of semiconductor exports to the U.S. last year was 7.5%, which is lower than that of China (32.8%), Hong Kong (18.4%), Taiwan (15.2%), and Vietnam (12.7%). However, for reasons such as assembly and processing, there are not a few cases where products are exported to the U.S. via other countries like Taiwan.

President Trump did not specify the exact timing for the imposition of semiconductor tariffs on this day.

The previous day, in an interview with CNBC, President Trump mentioned that he plans to announce more item-specific tariffs "next week or so," and cited semiconductors and pharmaceuticals as target items, suggesting that an announcement regarding semiconductor tariffs could be made as early as next week.

Furthermore, when asked if he would impose secondary tariffs on China, another major importer of Russian energy, similar to the additional 25% 'secondary tariff' imposed on India for importing Russian oil, President Trump said, "That could happen."

President Trump announced at the event, attended by Apple CEO Tim Cook, "Apple is announcing that it will invest $600 billion (832 trillion won) in the United States over the next four years," adding, "This is $100 billion more than Apple originally intended to invest."

Yonhap News