About this episode
US manufacturers live in confusing times. Alongside the widespread increases in taxes on imports that took effect this morning, US President Trump suggested a 100% tax on imports of microchips. However, in a maneuver that was less a retreat and more a pirouette, these taxes will not apply to imports from some specific companies, including some of the largest exporters to the US. That blunts the cost of the tax and tilts this toward spin rather than substance, but increases the paperwork associated with doing business in the US.