The South Korean semiconductor industry is on edge after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 100% tariff on semiconductors. While firms with U.S. production facilities may be exempt, uncertainty over the scope of exemptions is raising anxiety. Stronger-than-Expected Tariff The 100% tariff, revealed on August 7, was harsher than anticipated. “With the 15% reciprocal tariff rate, we thought we could manage,” said one industry official. “But a sudden 100% tariff on semiconductors has heightened fears.” President Trump stated that companies producing semiconductors in the U.S. would be exempt, but it remains unclear if this applies only to volumes produced domestically or also to exports from Korea. Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix — major suppliers to U.S. Big Tech — now face uncertainty. “What companies hate most is uncertainty, and that’s exactly what we have,” an insider said. Industry observers believe Trump’s move is intended to pressure global semiconductor production into the U.S., rewarding firms with American facilities and pushing others to invest. In this context, Korean firms may be better positioned than most: Samsung runs a foundry in Austin and is building a $37B plant in Taylor, Texas, for 2026; SK Hynix plans a $3.87B HBM packaging plant in Indiana by 2028. Risk if Exemptions Apply Only to Local Output If exemptions cover only U.S.-made semiconductors, the situation shifts. Samsung still produces most chips in Korea or China, exporting them to the U.S., while SK Hynix has no operational U.S. fab yet. A 100% tariff on non-U.S. production could deliver a severe blow. Kwon Seok-jun, chemical engineering professor at Sungkyunkwan University, warned it’s unclear whether tariffs target finished products, components, or processed goods. If components like DRAM, NAND, and HBM are included, Korean firms focusing on these could suffer more. Impact on Investment Decisions The industry is weighing whether to expand U.S. investment. Kim Yang-paeng, senior researcher at the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade, noted that high tariffs would raise costs for American buyers too. Micron, a major U.S. semiconductor firm, also manufactures primarily in Asia. He argued that tariffs would not necessarily benefit U.S. companies, suggesting no rush for Korean firms to make major U.S. investments. (ICE SEOUL)

Fonte notizia: DONG A ILBO