“We will impose customs duties of approximately 100 % on fleas and semiconductors,” said Trump in the Oval Office when meeting Apple CEO, Tim Cook. “But if you make in the United States, there is no cost.”
The Republican President said that companies that make electronic fleas in the United States would be exempt from the import tax. During the COVVI-19 pandemic, a shortage of electronic fleas increased the price of cars and contributed to a general increase in inflation.
The demand in computer flea has increased worldwide, with an increase in sales of 19.6 % during the financial year which ended in June, according to the organization World Semiconductor Trade Statistics.
The threats of the American president concerning customs duties mark a significant rupture with existing plans aimed at relaunching the production of electronic fleas in the United States. He chooses an approach that favors the stick to the carrot in order to encourage increased production.
In essence, the president bets that the increase in the cost of electronic chips will force most companies to open factories on American soil, despite the risk that customs duties reduce the profits of companies and increase the prices of mobile phones, televisions and refrigerators.
On the other hand, the Bipartite Chips and Science Act law, promulgated in 2022 by the president of the time, Joe Biden, provided more than 50 billion to support the creation of electronic flea plants, finance research and train workers in the sector.
This combination of financial support, tax credits and other financial incentives aimed to attract private investments, a strategy to which Trump fiercely opposed.