Trump says he will impose tariffs on chips "in the near future."

BarcelonaJust a few days afterfree various technological products from tariffs, including computers and smartphones, Donald Trump said Sunday that tariffs on semiconductors and chips will be implemented "in the near future." "Just as we did with [the tariffs on] steel, autos, and aluminum, which are already in full effect, we'll be doing the same thing with semiconductors, chips, and many more products," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One.

Trump has argued that the US wants to manufacture its own chips and semiconductors, as well as other major goods like pharmaceuticals, which he also said he will tax. "We want to manufacture our medicines in this country [...] so that in case of war or whatever, we're not dependent on China or other countries," he said. When asked what specific tariff his administration will impose on semiconductor imports, Trump simply said that he would announce it "this coming week."

He also said that his administration will talk with US companies like Apple about imposing tariffs on phones, tablets, and computers. "We need to show some flexibility," he added. Last Friday, US Customs and Border Protection reported that phones, computers, and various components, including semiconductors, were exempt from so-called "reciprocal tariffs," including the 145% levies imposed in China. The decision came after concerns expressed by major US technology companies that the price of their devices could skyrocket.

But in recent hours, Trump has denied that any tariff "exception" had been announced. In a post on his social network, Truth Social, he argued that "these products are subject to the existing 20% tariffs on fentanyl [which he imposed on China at the beginning of his term, considering that it was not doing enough to combat trafficking of this drug] and are simply being moved to another tariff category."

Negotiations with the EU

While waiting for new details, Brussels takes another step this Monday in an attempt to de-escalate the trade war with the US. European Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic meets in Washington with his American counterpart, Howard Lutnick, and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to open negotiations "in good faith." The trip comes after Trump lowered global tariffs to 10% for 90 days (from the 20% imposed on the EU) and Brussels suspended the 25% European countermeasures imposed by Washington on steel and aluminum for the same period.