According to CNBC , this announcement once again shows that chips and electronic supply chains will not be exempted from US President Donald Trump's reciprocal tax policy, although he previously said many electronic products would not be subject to reciprocal taxes.

The full text of the investigation will be released on April 16.

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Chips and electronics imported from the US will be investigated. Photo: NYT

The US Department of Commerce will investigate “the feasibility of increasing domestic semiconductor capacity” if it is “necessary to protect national security.” The investigation covers a wide range of items such as chip components (semiconductor wafers, chip manufacturing equipment), and finished products containing semiconductors. Semiconductors play an essential role in all types of modern electronic devices.

Although smartphones, computers, semiconductors, etc. are not currently subject to corresponding tariffs, Mr. Trump and some US officials said this is only temporary. The US Commerce Department investigation will pave the way for separate tariffs on semiconductors and electronics.

The ministry will conduct a referendum within 21 days, starting April 16.

Earlier, on April 13, the media reported that Mr. Trump said he would announce new tariffs on imported semiconductors next week. On the same day, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told ABC News that separate tariffs on semiconductors and electronics would be announced in the next 1 or 2 months.

The investigation is based on Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, which allows the US president to impose tariffs on national security grounds. The US is heavily dependent on semiconductor technology imported from Taiwan (China), South Korea and the Netherlands, but the country is also working to bring the supply chain back home through a series of policies such as the CHIPS Act and the Science and Technology Act.

Nvidia, the world’s No. 1 AI semiconductor company, announced that it will design and build AI supercomputer factories entirely in the U.S. Last month, contractor TSMC also announced plans to increase investment in advanced semiconductor manufacturing here.

(According to CNBC)

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/my-dieu-tra-chip-dien-tu-nhap-khau-mo-duong-cho-thue-quan-moi-2391472.html