<div id="readability-page-1"><div><p><span>Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick outlined a tougher framework for semiconductor trade policy following a groundbreaking ceremony for a new Micron Technology plant outside Syracuse, New York, signaling that South Korean memory chipmakers and Taiwanese companies without meaningful US investment could face tariffs of up to 100%. Lutnick framed the choice as binary, suggesting companies could either absorb steep levies or expand manufacturing on American soil, language that echoed comments made after the signing of a Taiwan trade agreement offering quota-based tariff relief tied to US investment. While President Donald Trump is currently holding back on broad semiconductor tariffs, the White House has indicated that new tariffs and an offset program designed to encourage domestic production could be announced in the near future as talks continue with trading partners.</span></p><p><span>Against that backdrop, Micron </span><span> is positioning itself as a central beneficiary of the administration's push, particularly as demand for high-bandwidth memory used in artificial intelligence data centers continues to rise. Micron competes directly with Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix in this segment, where all three companies have flagged supply constraints amid strong AI-driven demand. Micron has committed to investing as much as $200 billion in the US, including $150 billion for manufacturing and $50 billion for research and development, with its Clay, New York project representing the company's largest domestic investment to date. The Commerce Department said Lutnick's stance reflects a broader effort to restore US manufacturing strength in semiconductors, while Samsung, SK Hynix, and Taiwan's representative office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.</span></p><p><span>Policy developments with Taiwan and South Korea add further context. The Taiwan agreement sets tariffs on goods from the island at 15% and allows companies building US facilities to import up to 2.5 times current capacity tariff-free during construction, falling to 1.5 times once production is complete, alongside a commitment from Taiwan's tech industry to invest at least $250 billion in the US, including additional chip plants from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. A separate accord with South Korea also establishes a 15% tariff on most goods while sparing chip imports for now and includes a proposed $350 billion investment fund, though the scale of future spending by Samsung (SSNLF) and SK Hynix (HXSCF) beyond existing plans remains unclear. Micron shares rose 7.8% on Friday, extending gains that have left the stock up 27% this month and sharply higher in 2025, as investors weighed how trade policy could reshape global chip supply chains.</span></p></div></div>

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<p>The Trump Administration, led by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, is proposing up to 100% tariffs on South Korean and Taiwanese chipmakers lacking significant US investment, aiming to boost domestic semiconductor manufacturing. Micron Technology is positioned to benefit, committing $200 billion to US operations amid rising demand for AI-related memory. Recent trade agreements with Taiwan and South Korea include tariff incentives for US investments. Micron's stock surged 7.8% as investors anticipate changes in global chip supply chains due to these policies.</p>

- Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick introduced a stricter semiconductor trade policy, indicating potential tariffs of up to 100% on South Korean and Taiwanese chipmakers lacking substantial US investment.  
- The framework includes incentives for domestic manufacturing, aligning with a recent Taiwan trade agreement and reflecting a push to strengthen US semiconductor production, with Micron pledging $200 billion in investments.  
- Upcoming tariff announcements are anticipated, as Micron's stock has surged in response to these developments, amid an increasing demand for high-bandwidth memory driven by artificial intelligence.

Trump Administration Signals 100% Tariffs to Push Chipmakers Into US