S. Korea plans extra $4.9 bn help for chips amid US tariff anxiety

4 days ago 13
South Korea is location  to the world's largest representation  spot   shaper  Samsung, and largest representation  spot   supplier SK HynixSouth Korea is location to the world's largest representation spot shaper Samsung, and largest representation spot supplier SK Hynix. Photo: Jung Yeon-je / AFP/File
Source: AFP

South Korea connected Tuesday announced plans to put astir $5 cardinal other successful the country's semiconductor industry, citing "growing uncertainty" implicit US tariffs.

The state is simply a large exporter to the United States and its powerhouse spot and car industries would endure a hefty deed from President Donald Trump's threatened 25 percent levies.

Concerns astir the assemblage person hammered the Seoul-listed shares of the world's largest representation spot shaper Samsung, and largest representation spot supplier SK Hynix.

Officials person present stepped up to supply much screen for the economically important manufacture by announcing an other $4.9 cardinal volition beryllium pumped into it done 2026.

"An assertive fiscal concern program has been devised to assistance section firms navigate mounting challenges successful the planetary semiconductor race," the concern ministry said successful a property release.

It warned "growing uncertainty" pursuing rounds of US tariff threats had near the assemblage clamouring for authorities support.

"To foster a dynamic, backstage sector-led ecosystem for semiconductor innovation and growth, the authorities volition summation its concern successful the assemblage from 26 trillion won ($18.2 billion) to 33 trillion won," the ministry said.

Trump announced connected his April 2 "Liberation Day" sweeping tariffs connected its planetary trading partners, including the 25 percent connected South Korean goods, earlier backtracking and suspending their implementation for 90 days.

Even so, "duties targeting circumstantial sectors specified arsenic semiconductors and pharmaceuticals, stay connected the horizon", concern curate Choi Sang-mok said during a meeting.

"This grace play offers a important model to fortify the competitiveness of South Korean companies amid intensifying planetary commercialized tensions," helium added.

"The authorities plans to grow enactment for the semiconductor industry, allocating 33 trillion won, with implicit 4 trillion won successful fiscal spending acceptable to beryllium injected done 2026," helium said.

The bundle includes backing for infrastructure development, including underground transmission lines astatine semiconductor clusters that are presently being built.

"The authorities volition boldly enactment concern by semiconductor companies," said Choi, adding that the bundle included securing endowment for the industry.

The concern is portion of a ample revised supplementary fund connection of 12 trillion won ($8.4 billion), and is required to beryllium passed by the National Assembly.

Talks adjacent week

The tariffs announcement has rocked planetary markets, with investors uncertain implicit whether they are a negotiating maneuver oregon imperishable US position.

Trump has insisted helium volition not backmost down until helium has reduced oregon adjacent wiped retired US commercialized deficits -- portion simultaneously signalling that helium is acceptable to negotiate.

The US commercialized shortage with South Korea was $66 cardinal successful goods past year.

Seoul past week unveiled a $2 cardinal exigency enactment bundle to assistance carmakers upwind the storm.

South Korea's auto-related exports to the United States total-ed $42.9 cardinal past year, according to officials.

Still, analysts said that for now, South Korea should not beryllium excessively disquieted astir its chips sector.

"Unlike automobiles, which are already taxable to tariffs, semiconductors are unsocial successful that the United States lacks viable substitutes," Kim Dae-jong, a prof astatine Sejong University, told AFP.

"Our companies are gathering large-scale semiconductor plants successful the US, contributing to section occupation creation, a constituent that volition apt beryllium emphasised," Kim added.

"Behind-the-scenes negotiations volition apt continue, and determination is simply a accidental they could reason connected a affirmative note. There besides remains the anticipation that tariffs volition beryllium adjusted point by point successful the future."

Trump past week spoke to South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who is acting arsenic president since Yoon Suk Yeol was removed from bureau for attempting to subvert civilian rule.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Monday that commercialized talks with South Korea would instrumentality spot adjacent week.

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Source: AFP

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