Trump Moves Phones, Computers, Chips To 20 Percent China Tariff ‘Bucket’ As National Security Investigation Into Electronics Trade Continues:
https://dailytorch.com/2025/04/trump-moves-phones-computers-chips-to-20-percent-china-tariff-bucket-as-national-security-investigation-into-electronics-trade-continues/
“These products are subject to the existing 20% Fentanyl Tariffs, and they are just moving to a different Tariff ‘bucket.’” That was President Donald Trump on Truth Social on April 13, clarifying that technology products manufactured in China including phones, computers and chips and other semiconductors will be subjected to the 20 percent tariff to foster greater cooperation in combating fentanyl shipments to the U.S. that the President levied on March 3. In addition, the President stated that the investigation into the electronics supply chain on national security grounds — hinting at potential additional tariffs under 19 U.S.C. Sec. 1862, Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 — that Trump launched on Jan. 20 is ongoing. Trump wrote, “We are taking a look at Semiconductors and the WHOLE ELECTRONICS SUPPLY CHAIN in the upcoming National Security Tariff Investigations.” Here, Trump is in part granting what appears to be temporary a reprieve to U.S. companies like Apple and Dell that are deeply invested in China, who were initially being subjected to the 145 percent tariff — the 20 percent fentanyl cooperation tariff plus the 125 percent overall tariff — that Trump put into place on April 9. But as the Section 232 national security investigations commence by U.S. departments and agencies including the Departments of Commerce and Defense, taking into account recent advancements in artificial intelligence chips and technologies — some of the most advanced technologies with military applications in the world — they will almost certainly find that the consolidated manufacturing of these products singularly in China and Taiwan particularly is quite precarious and recommend prioritizing domestic production. It would be like being dependent on Russian imports of rocket technologies to build intercontinental ballistic missiles during the Cold War — something that never happened because it would have been too dangerous and given the Soviet Union unnecessary leverage with which to threaten the U.S. Instead, obviously, we had our own rocket program. And so too it will be with chips and other computer technologies — because it must be so in order to protect U.S. national security. Does any rational investor on Wall Street think it will go any other way?
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