Highest 250%! Trump Claims He Will Announce Tariffs on Chip and Drug Imports Within "About a Week"
Tech-savvy Finance APP has learned that US President Trump said on Tuesday that the US government will announce tariffs on imported products from the semiconductor and pharmaceutical industries within "about a week," aiming to reshape global trade rules and force key industries to return to domestic production in the United States.
Trump stated in an interview: "We'll start with a small tariff on drugs, but within a year or a year and a half, this tariff will rise to 150%, eventually reaching 250%. We want drugs produced domestically in the US."
He also stated that the US government will "announce further measures" on tariffs for semiconductors and chips. The US Commerce Department has been investigating the global semiconductor market since April this year, laying the legal groundwork for potential tariff actions. According to relevant predictions, the global semiconductor market's annual sales revenue is nearly $7 trillion.
This move may have a significant impact on large data center operators that rely heavily on advanced chips, including Microsoft (MSFT.US), OpenAI, Meta (META.US), and Amazon (AMZN.US) among others. These companies are investing heavily in artificial intelligence businesses, requiring even more advanced chips. Once the tariffs are imposed, costs may surge sharply.
Trump has long advocated for stimulating domestic manufacturing investments through tariff measures, particularly by promoting chip production to return to the US. He praised Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company's (TSM.US) expansion plans in the US: "You know, one of the world's largest chip manufacturers is investing $30 billion in Arizona to build the world's largest chip factory."
However, Trump's claim about a "$30 billion" investment has not been verified. According to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company's official plans, its total investment in Arizona is expected to be around $16.5 billion, including six advanced process factories, two packaging plants, and one research center. The company and the White House have not responded to Trump's statement.
In addition to semiconductors, Trump warned that the pharmaceutical industry will face even more destructive tariffs, aiming to force the industry to return to the US. He has recently pressured major pharmaceutical suppliers to significantly reduce prices, threatening further punishment measures if they fail to comply.
Currently, global pharmaceutical giants such as Merck (MRK.US) and Eli Lilly (LLY.US) have set up large manufacturing facilities worldwide. According to data from the US Biotechnology Innovation Organization, nearly 90% of US biotechnology companies that have received approval for their products rely at least partially on imported raw materials or key components.
This time's tariffs on pharmaceuticals, metals, and other key industries are all based on the national security investigation conducted under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act. Such investigations typically take around nine months, providing a stronger legal foundation than Trump's previous emergency actions against specific countries, which are currently facing court challenges.