RismadarVoice Reporters
September 4, 2026
South Korea and the United States are discussing semiconductor investments in the US as part of broader bilateral negotiations, a Seoul presidential official has said, amid concerns over possible new tariffs on chip imports.
The official made the comments after US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Washington was preparing a targeted tariff policy on semiconductor imports, warning companies that they could face higher costs if they did not expand manufacturing in the United States.
“There are various issues between South Korea and the United States, and they are sometimes affecting each other,” the South Korean official said, adding that semiconductor investment was among the issues currently under discussion.
The official said Seoul was working to ensure that trade and investment discussions between the two countries did not negatively affect each other.
The talks come under the framework of a deal that included $350 billion in South Korean investment in US manufacturing. Under the agreement, South Korean chipmakers would receive tariff treatment “no less favourable” than that offered to competitors with similar or larger volumes of chip trade.
South Korea is home to major semiconductor manufacturers including Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, two of the world’s largest memory chip producers. Demand for advanced chips has increased significantly as technology companies expand artificial intelligence infrastructure.
The US government has been encouraging greater domestic production of semiconductors as part of efforts to strengthen supply chain security and reduce reliance on overseas manufacturing.
Meanwhile, Seoul’s discussions with Washington on other national security issues, including South Korea’s plan to build a nuclear-powered submarine, have reportedly made limited progress, according to the official.
The semiconductor negotiations form part of wider efforts by both countries to manage economic and security ties while addressing concerns over tariffs and strategic industries.
