-
- News
- Books
Featured Books
- smt007 Magazine
Latest Issues
Current IssueProduction Software Integration
EMS companies need advanced software systems to thrive and compete. But these systems require significant effort to integrate and deploy. What is the reality, and how can we make it easier for everyone?
Spotlight on India
We invite you on a virtual tour of India’s thriving ecosystem, guided by the Global Electronics Association’s India office staff, who share their insights into the region’s growth and opportunities.
Supply Chain Strategies
A successful brand is built on strong customer relationships—anchored by a well-orchestrated supply chain at its core. This month, we look at how managing your supply chain directly influences customer perception.
- Articles
- Columns
- Links
- Media kit
||| MENU - smt007 Magazine
Tariffs and Trade Wars: What to Expect in 2025
January 21, 2025 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamEstimated reading time: 1 minute

James Kim is an international trade lawyer at ArentFox Schiff who keeps his thumb on the pulse of customs enforcement and import compliance. With a new administration taking over just days from now, James weighs in on the potential risks of international tariffs, some possible workarounds, and why this topic should be No. 1 on your list of concerns.
Marcy LaRont: James, with a new administration, there has been a lot of talk about tariffs. What do you expect?
James Kim: Speculation is rampant, something we saw with Donald Trump’s first term. He would make off-the-cuff remarks or threaten some sort of tariff action. Sometimes, it played out that way, but a lot of times, it didn’t.
Last time, he talked about imposing high tariffs on Mexican products for the same reasons he's proposing them now. His aim is to clamp down on illegal immigration and drug smuggling. Ultimately, he backed off last time from his original proposal because he was satisfied with what Mexico said it would do to address those concerns. This time he says there are major problems with illegal immigration, and he wants to shut down the border until Mexico does something about it. He’s also suggesting a 25% tariff on imports from Mexico.
He's now throwing a tariff proposal against Canada. So, we can predict something will happen. He's promised he will initiate the tariff process on Canada and Mexico as soon as he enters office. He's talked a lot about China so I would expect some action to be taken there.
We don’t know how long those tariffs will last, but we know that Trump uses them as a negotiating tactic to get these countries to make certain trade concessions and for other foreign policy aims that have nothing to do with the products on which the tariffs are being imposed. I would expect the same this time around.
Testimonial
"Our marketing partnership with I-Connect007 is already delivering. Just a day after our press release went live, we received a direct inquiry about our updated products!"
Rachael Temple - AlltematedSuggested Items
2H25 Foundry Utilization Exceeds Expectations, Some Players Are Prepared for Price Hikes
10/16/2025 | TrendForceTrendForce’s latest investigations have revealed that wafer foundry utilization during the second half of 2025 has remained more resilient than anticipated. Several factors are contributing to this, including the postponed U.S. semiconductor tariffs, low inventory at IC vendors, the peak smartphone season, and ongoing high demand for AI.
Nolan’s Notes: Tariffs, Technologies, and Optimization
10/01/2025 | Nolan Johnson -- Column: Nolan's NotesLast month, SMT007 Magazine spotlighted India, and boy, did we pick a good time to do so. Tariff and trade news involving India was breaking like a storm surge. The U.S. tariffs shifted India from one of the most favorable trade agreements to the least favorable. Electronics continue to be exempt for the time being, but lest you think that we’re free and clear because we manufacture electronics, steel and aluminum are specifically called out at the 50% tariff levels.
SIA Statement on Semiconductor Tariffs Announcement
08/27/2025 | SIAThe Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) released the following statement from SIA President and CEO John Neuffer regarding President Trump’s semiconductor tariff announcement.
The Government Circuit: Navigating New Trade Headwinds and New Partnerships
08/25/2025 | Chris Mitchell -- Column: The Government CircuitAs global trade winds continue to howl, the electronics manufacturing industry finds itself at a critical juncture. After months of warnings, the U.S. Government has implemented a broad array of tariff increases, with fresh duties hitting copper-based products, semiconductors, and imports from many nations. On the positive side, tentative trade agreements with Europe, China, Japan, and other nations are providing at least some clarity and counterbalance.
50% Copper Tariffs, 100% Chip Uncertainty, and a Truce
08/19/2025 | Andy Shaughnessy, I-Connect007If you’re like me, tariffs were not on your radar screen until a few months ago, but now political rhetoric has turned to presidential action. Tariffs are front-page news with major developments coming directly from the Oval Office. These are not typical times. President Donald Trump campaigned on tariff reform, and he’s now busy revamping America’s tariff policy.