Donald Trump says no country is “off the hook” for “unfair trade balances”, ahead of his expected new tariffs on powerful computer chips.
The president said he would detail the new tariffs on superconductor chips this week, just days after the White House excluded smartphones and other electronics from the ultra-high levies on goods from China.
But the president said those goods were not exempted from tariffs entirely, rather they had been put in a new “tariff bucket” and remain subject to the broad 20 percent tariff hike the White House had previously placed on Chinese goods in its fight against fentanyl.
“NOBODY is getting “off the hook” for the unfair Trade Balances, and Non Monetary Tariff Barriers, that other Countries have used against us, especially not China which, by far, treats us the worst!” he wrote on his Truth Social platform on Sunday.
Trump said he wants companies to make chips and semiconductors in the U.S. so the American economy is not “held hostage” by other countries.
“We are taking a look at Semiconductors and the WHOLE ELECTRONICS SUPPLY CHAIN in the upcoming National Security Tariff Investigations,” he said.
China halts rare earth exports in escalating trade war
China has halted the export of a wide range of rare earth minerals, which are key to semiconductor and automotive industries around the world.
The suspension comes as the trade war between China and the U.S. continues to escalate after President Donald Trump decided to raise tariffs on China even further, while suspending large increases on most trading partners.
Shipments of the key minerals stopped on April 4, with exporters now required to apply for licences that could take anywhere from several weeks to several months to be approved.
China produces more than 90 per cent of the world’s rare earth minerals, and industry experts were concerned that if the export halt lasts more than a couple of months, existing stockpiles could be depleted.
Rachel Clun14 April 2025 08:44
More Asian countries line up for tariff talks to avoid steep hikes
Tariff negotiations are beginning immediately between the U.S. and several major Asian economies, according to South Korea’s acting president.
President Han Duck-soo said Donald Trump seems to have directed talks to start straight away with South Korea, Japan and India, the Yonhap News Agency reported.
On ‘liberation day’, the president imposed tariffs of 26 per cent on India, 25 per cent on South Korea and 24 per cent on Japan. Those hikes have been paused to allow for negotiations.
Han said he had detailed South Korea’s stance on negotiations and Trump had been satisfied with that position.
Rachel Clun14 April 2025 08:36
First phase of U.S.-Taiwan tariff talks have gone ‘smoothly’
Taiwan’s president says the first phase of tariff talks with the U.S. have gone “smoothly”.
Taiwan is a major producer of the world’s semiconductors, making advanced chips for electronics, including smartphones and computers.
The country was due to be hit with a 32 per cent tariff by the U.S. president, but those higher tariffs were paused for 90 days last week to allow time for negotiations.
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-tei said talks with the U.S. have already begun.
“Taiwan has started negotiations with the United States, and the first phase of the negotiations went smoothly,” his office cited him as saying.
Lai said he “hoped to use this challenge as an opportunity for Taiwan to promote the new layout of ‘Taiwan plus one’, that is, Taiwan plus the United States”.
It is unclear how Trump’s proposed tariffs on superconductors would affect these negotiations.
Rachel Clun14 April 2025 08:26
China’s president says there are ‘no winners’ in a trade war
Chinese President Xi Jinping says “there are no winners in a trade war, or a tariff war,” as tariffs of 145 per cent remain on Chinese goods exported to the U.S.
Xi’s comments came in an editorial, published in both official Vietnamese and Chinese media while the Chinese president tours Southeast Asia.
“Our two countries should resolutely safeguard the multilateral trading system, stable global industrial and supply chains, and open and co-operative international environment,” he wrote.
Last week, China announced it would lift tariffs on American goods to 125 per cent, in retaliation for the higher duties imposed by the Trump administration.
Chinese President Xi Jinping
Sam Rkaina14 April 2025 08:18
Trump expected to announce chip tariffs today
The U.S. President is expected to detail new tariffs on powerful computer chips on Monday.
It is unclear how tariffs on the chips, which are key components of smartphones and other electronics, will affect the recently announced exemption on ultra-high tariffs imposed on goods from China.
Asked about the possibility of chips tariffs by reporters over the weekend, Trump said “I’ll give you that answer on Monday,” the New York Times reported.
On his Truth Social platform, the president said America needed to make more products in the U.S.
“NOBODY is getting “off the hook” for the unfair Trade Balances, and Non Monetary Tariff Barriers, that other Countries have used against us, especially not China which, by far, treats us the worst!” he wrote.
“There was no Tariff “exception” announced on Friday. These products are subject to the existing 20% Fentanyl Tariffs, and they are just moving to a different Tariff ‘bucket’.
He continued: “We are taking a look at Semiconductors and the WHOLE ELECTRONICS SUPPLY CHAIN in the upcoming National Security Tariff Investigations.”
Rachel Clun14 April 2025 08:17
