▲ This file photo, released by UPI, shows U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer speaking during a House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies hearing at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on April 16, 2026. (Yonhap)

USTR-chip tariffs

USTR says no immediate chip tariffs coming: report

By Song Sang-ho

WASHINGTON, May 22 (Yonhap) -- U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said Friday that there were no immediate semiconductor tariffs coming, according to a report, though he underscored the importance of protecting America's chip sector.

Greer made the remarks at Micron Technology's memory chip plant expansion project outside Washington, Reuters reported, apparently referring to sectoral duties on chip imports that might come after national security investigations under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962.

"So, having tariffs on semiconductors is ⁠really important. What's even ⁠more important than having protection for facilities like this, is making sure we do it on ⁠the right timing ⁠and ⁠in the ‌right amount," Greer was quoted by Reuters as saying.

"There was not an immediate tariff coming," he added.

In August, Trump threatened to impose a tariff of about 100 percent on semiconductors, as South Korean tech firms Samsung Electronics Co. and SK hynix Inc., have been carefully watching his tariff policy developments.

In last year's joint fact sheet on trade and security agreements between Seoul and Washington, the U.S. agreed to offer semiconductor tariff rates that are "no less favorable" than terms that may be offered to a partner with chip trade volumes as large as South Korea's.

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