Trump plans to impose '100%' tariff on semiconductors

US President Donald Trump has said he planned to impose a 100% tariff on imported semiconductors, although he did not offer a timetable for the new levy being enacted.

"We're going to be putting a very large tariff on chips and semiconductors," he told reporters at the White House, adding that level would be "100%".

Earlier, Mr Trump ordered steeper tariffs on Indian goods over India's continued purchase of Russian oil, opening a new front in his trade wars just hours before another wave of duties takes effect.

An additional 25% tariff on Indian goods, set to come into place in three weeks, stacks atop a separate 25% duty entering into force tomorrow, taking the level to 50% for many products.

Mr Trump's order also threatens penalties on other countries that "directly or indirectly" import Russian oil, a key revenue source for Russia's war in Ukraine.

However, exemptions remain for goods targeted under sector-specific duties such as steel and aluminium, and categories that could be hit later, like pharmaceuticals and semiconductors.

Smartphones are among this list of exempted products for now, notably shielding Apple from a major hit as the US tech titan shifts production from China to India.

India's foreign ministry condemned Mr Trump's tariff announcement, calling the move "unfair, unjustified and unreasonable".

"India will take all necessary steps to protect its national interests," it said, adding that purchases were driven by market factors and the energy needs of India's 1.4 billion people.

The development comes as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi prepares for his first visit to China in over seven years, suggesting a potential realignment in alliances as relations with Washington fray.

The ministry previously said India began importing oil from Russia as traditional supplies were diverted to Europe over the war -- noting that the US had "actively encouraged" such imports to strengthen "global energy market stability".

However, Mr Trump recently raised pressure on India over the oil purchases, threatening new tariffs as part of a campaign to force Russia into ending its devastating invasion of Ukraine.

India's national security adviser is in Russia, media in India reported, coinciding with US envoy Steve Witkoff's visit.

The 25% additional tariff is notably lower than a 100% level President Trump floated last month when he told Russia to end the war in Ukraine within 50 days or face massive new economic sanctions.

The Republican said at the time that these would be "secondary tariffs" targeting Russia's remaining trade partners, seeking to impede Moscow's ability to survive already sweeping Western sanctions.

"This marks a low point in US-India relations," said Farwa Aamer, the Asia Society Policy Institute's director of South Asia Initiatives.

She expects domestic pressure for India to accede to US demands, but said "this will be a tough road to navigate."

Mr Trump has also separately taken aim at Brazil over the trial of his right-wing ally, former president Jair Bolsonaro, who is accused of planning a coup.

US tariffs on various Brazilian goods surged from 10% to 50%, although broad exemptions, including for orange juice and civil aircraft, are expected to soften the blow.

Brazil took the first formal step today at the World Trade Organization to begin dispute proceedings against the tariffs, government sources told AFP.

Come tomorrow, a new wave of tariffs impacting dozens of other economies, from the European Union to Taiwan, is set to kick in.

These updated "reciprocal" tariffs, meant to address trade practices Washington deems unfair, go up to 41% for Syria.

Major US trading partners face varying increases from a current 10% level, starting at 15% for economies like the EU, Japan and South Korea.

Countries not targeted by these "reciprocal" tariff hikes continue facing a 10% levy Mr Trump imposed in April.

President Trump's plans have sparked a rush to avert the steeper duties, with Switzerland's President Karin Keller-Sutter hurrying to Washington ahead of the Thursday deadline.

Though she secured a meeting with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, it was unclear if she would meet Trump or any top economic officials.

Her Alpine country faces a 39% duty on many exports.

While Switzerland's key pharmaceutical sector has been spared for now, Trump has said a potential separate tariff could eventually rise to 250%.

Some of Mr Trump's sweeping tariffs face legal challenges over his use of emergency economic powers, with the cases likely to ultimately reach the Supreme Court.

Swiss president to meet Rubio over tariffs

It comes as Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter is to meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the State Department said, as Switzerland tries to win a reprieve from US tariffs of 39% on Swiss imports.

Ms Keller-Sutter and Business Minister Guy Parmelin flew to Washington for last-minute negotiations before the tariffs go into effect tomorrow.

Mr Trump had originally threatened in April to put a 31% tariff on Switzerland.

But he surprised the export-driven country last week when he decided to hike the rate to 39% despite numerous discussions between Swiss and US officials aimed at reaching a deal.

The Swiss government noted the country will be hit by much higher tariffs than what other wealthy economies, such as Britain, Japan or the European Union, are facing.

The Swiss government "reaffirmed that it was keen to pursue talks with the United States on the tariff situation" and the president and economy minister are visiting Washington "for this reason", the statement said.

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, however, told CBS television on Sunday that the tariffs on global trading partners, which are coming into force this week, "are pretty much set".

Mr Trump signalled that a separate initially "small" tariff on imports of pharmaceuticals from around the world - a key sector for Switzerland - could come "within the next week".

But the sector-specific tariff could rise to 150% in a year and eventually be as high as 250%, he said, adding the delay was to allow companies to shift production to the United States.

Pharmaceuticals represented 60% of Swiss goods exports to the United States last year.

A Swiss Government official said Ms Keller-Sutter and Mr Parmelin were accompanied by a small delegation, including the heads of the economy and international finance departments.

The United States is a key trading partner for Switzerland, taking 18.6% of its total exports last year, according to Swiss customs data.

Ms Keller-Sutter has said Mr Trump believes that Switzerland "steals" from the United States by enjoying a trade surplus of 40 billion Swiss francs (€43bn).

Swiss companies have urged the government to negotiate a lower tariff.

"I am convinced that Donald Trump wants to make a deal and show it to his US voters," Nik Hayek, the head of watch firm Swatch, told Le Temps newspaper in an interview published late on Monday.

But, Mr Hayek added: "President Karin Keller-Sutter has to react and find a solution in person there."

Necessary 'to focus on facts', says European Commission spokesperson

Spokesperson for the European Commission Olof Gill said it is necessary "to focus on facts" in relation to President Trump's recent comments on potential tariffs for pharmaceutical imports to the United States.

Speaking to RTÉ's Drivetime, he said this was "essential in trying to understand what's actually happening and what's not happening".

He described Mr Trump's remarks yesterday as a "threat" at this stage.

Mr Gill said the US is currently carrying out a "232 investigation" which the EU expects is going to be used as the justification for moving currently zero tariffs on pharmaceuticals to higher rates for different regions around the world.

"However, the US has given a commitment to the EU that even after the results of that investigation are announced, that the overall 15% ceiling that was agreed between [EU Commission] President von der Leyen and [President] Trump last week, is going to apply also to EU pharma exports, irrespective of other tariffs imposed by the US on other countries.

"So that's the commitment we have, that's what we expect to see and that does indeed provide the type of clarity and stability...that businesses are looking for," he said.