US President Donald Trump has moved forward with plans to impose tariffs on semiconductors and pharmaceutical products. His administration has announced investigations into the national security risks associated with importing goods such as chip-making equipment and pharmaceutical ingredients on Monday, 14 April 2025,.

This follows Trump’s announcement on Sunday, 13 April 2025, to reveal the tariff rate on imported semiconductors within the coming week.

“We are taking a look at semiconductors and the whole electronics supply chain in the upcoming National Security Tariff Investigations,” Trump posted on Truth Social. 

This means Trump’s commitment to temporarily exclude imported smartphones, computers, chips, and other high-tech goods from his reciprocal tariffs on China could be short-lived.

Earlier, on Friday, 11 April 2025, the Trump administration revealed exemptions from the newest tariffs targeting China and other nations. The exemptions cover semiconductors and a range of electronic products imported from China which include computers, computer components, smartphones, flat-panel displays, monitors, and other high-tech products. The exemptions also  extend to machinery used in the production of semiconductor boules, devices, wafers, and electronic integrated circuits.

On 2 April 2025, Trump signed an executive order implementing a 10% baseline tariff on imports from all countries, including China. The move introduced reciprocal tariffs on imports from nations with the largest US trade deficits. However, on 9 April 2025, he announced a three-month suspension of all “reciprocal” tariffs, except for those targeting China.