A semiconductor wafer exhibited at the National Science Museum in Gwacheon. [Yonhap News file photo]

(SEOUL=Yonhap News) Reporter Bae Yeong-kyu = Regarding the US itemized tariff issue, a claim was raised on the 8th that more attention should be paid to tariffs on IT electronics such as smartphones and PCs than on semiconductors.

Kim Rok-ho, an analyst at Hana Securities, stated in a report on this day, "Although US President Donald Trump mentioned a 100% tariff on semiconductors, Samsung Electronics [005930] and SK Hynix [000660] are building or planning to build fabs (production plants) in the US, so their tariffs will be exempted."

In fact, US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick stated in an interview with local media on the 7th (local time) that tariffs on semiconductors would be an exception for companies that pledge to build production facilities in the US during President Trump's term and fulfill that commitment.

Accordingly, Kim added, "Due to the US investments by domestic companies, the impact of US tariffs is expected to be limited."

However, if a 100% tariff is imposed on semiconductors, contrary to expectations, it would amount to the $2.4 billion (approximately 3.3 trillion won) worth of semiconductors that the US imported from South Korea last year.

"This does not include the amount exported to the US from overseas factories in China and other countries, so the tariff amount will be larger," he explained, adding, "We must also consider that laptops and smartphones are manufactured through original equipment manufacturing (OEM) in China, Vietnam, and Taiwan."

However, the report diagnosed that, at present, the issue of US tariffs on IT electronics such as smartphones is more concerning than that on semiconductors.

Kim said, "If tariffs are imposed on smartphones and PCs, similar to semiconductors, then even if semiconductor tariffs are exempted, we will inevitably be at a disadvantage in competition with Apple in the US."

Regarding Apple's recent announcement to expand its total investment in the US to $600 billion over the next four years, he viewed it as Apple preemptively announcing investment with the possibility of government tariffs on smartphones and other products in mind.

Kim emphasized, "This move means Apple has secured price competitiveness against competitors like Samsung Electronics in the US smartphone market. The tariff rates not only on semiconductors but also on IT electronic products like smartphones will be major check points in the itemized semiconductor tariffs to be announced next week."

ykbae@yna.co.kr

(End)

(Copyright (c) Yonhap News, Unauthorized reproduction, reprinting, and AI learning/utilization are prohibited)