US to launch investigation into semiconductor tariffs to protect national security

President Donald Trump is preparing to direct the Commerce Department to initiate an investigation that could lead to new tariffs on semiconductor technology in a move aimed at safeguarding US national security, a White House official confirmed.

The probe, which will be conducted under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, allows the president to restrict imports deemed a threat to national security, Caliber.Az reports citing foreign media.

The investigation’s primary objective is to "revive US manufacturing in critical technologies," according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The decision is expected to escalate tensions between the US and major East Asian economies that supply much of the semiconductor technology used in the US, including Taiwan, South Korea, Malaysia, and Japan. China, while a major player in the global semiconductor market, is the world's largest consumer of chips.

The investigation will begin with a public comment period, and the process could take up to 270 days, although the White House has indicated that a faster timeline is possible. This move follows a series of similar investigations, including probes into the copper and timber industries over the past two months. Trump also used a Section 232 investigation during his first term to justify expanding tariffs on steel and aluminum in March.

Trump has indicated that tariffs on semiconductors could start at around 25 per cent and rise "substantially higher" over the course of a year. The president has also suggested that tariffs may be extended to other sectors, such as pharmaceuticals.

The semiconductor investigation could follow shortly after some electronics imports were temporarily exempted from Trump’s “reciprocal tariffs.” However, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick clarified that these exemptions are not permanent.

The imposition of new semiconductor tariffs would further add to the list of duties already introduced during Trump’s second term, including 145 per cent tariffs on China and a universal 10 per cent tariff on nearly all other countries. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) criticized Trump’s tariff strategy, calling it incoherent and damaging to investment in the US.

By Vafa Guliyeva