Trump Plans New Tariffs This Week – What You Need to Know!

After a brief relaxation on Saturday, the trade war reignited by Donald Trump has flared up again. This time, semiconductors are the target of the U.S. president. Shortly after granting a reprieve on so-called reciprocal tariffs, Trump has now vowed to impose new customs duties “within two months,” which quickly shifted to “very soon,” and then to “by the end of the week.”

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Donald Trump confirmed that a formal announcement would be made in the coming days, adding his intention to bring chip manufacturing back to the United States. We want to make our chips and semiconductors here, he emphasized.

Earlier in the day, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick had already set the stage. According to him, sector-specific tariffs on chips, previously spared from the 10% surcharge, will be imposed in a month or two.

The Promise of a Firm Dialogue

While the American president hinted at a hint of flexibility – notably regarding smartphones or laptops imported from China – there’s no guarantee that these products will remain safe from the hefty 145% tariff applied to other Chinese goods. We will talk to companies, but we need to show some flexibility, he stated. This vague remark offers only partial reassurance.

On his network Truth Social, Trump doubled down: a trade investigation for national security reasons has been launched, targeting the semiconductor sector and the entire electronic supply chain.

A Short-Lived Exemption

This latest tightening comes just days after the unexpected announcement of a temporary freeze on reciprocal tariffs, a measure meant to ease tensions with trade partners. However, this hiatus did not include China, which remains a major point of contention between Washington and the rest of the world.

Although smartphones and computers were initially exempt from the 145% surcharge, they were still subject to a 20% tax. With the upcoming specific duties on semiconductors, this truce could quickly shatter, and prices for tech products could soar.

Added Pressure on Global Tech

Players in the American and Asian tech sectors are closely watching this tariff escalation. Semiconductors are at the heart of the entire value chain, from smartphones to AI servers, and electric vehicles. A surtax on Chinese chips could disrupt the global supply chain and accelerate relocation to other countries like India or Vietnam.

However, in the short term, both consumers and manufacturers are likely to pay the price. Finally, Donald Trump’s determination to relocate production to the United States at all costs could come at a steep price for the entire sector and the broader economy, including the automotive and appliance industries.