Trump Mentions "Samsung Will Build a Large Factory in the U.S."… Samsung Says "No Official Announcement"

(MHN Reporter Jongheon Lee) U.S. President Donald Trump has caused a stir by publicly mentioning that Samsung Electronics plans to build a large-scale production facility in the United States.

However, Samsung Electronics has not officially announced any new investment plans, raising questions about the background and intent of President Trump’s remarks.

Trump Mentions Samsung Twice in One Day...Cites 'Tariff Policy' as Basis

On April 30 (local time), President Trump mentioned at a Cabinet meeting held at the White House, "I heard that Samsung plans to build a large-scale facility in the U.S. because of tariffs," adding, "If tariffs hadn't been imposed, this wouldn't have happened."

Later the same day, at a U.S. investment event, he reiterated, "I heard that Samsung announced it will build a very large factory in the U.S. this morning."

These remarks come within the context of the Trump administration showcasing the results of its tariff policy, aimed at encouraging global companies to invest in the U.S. President Trump emphasized, "To avoid tariffs, companies have no choice but to build factories in the U.S.," presenting the revival of domestic manufacturing and job creation as his key achievements.

What is Samsung's 'New Investment Plan'?

Contrary to President Trump’s comments, Samsung has not officially announced plans for the construction of new factories or large-scale investments in the U.S.

During a conference call on April 30 to discuss the company's earnings, Samsung's Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Park Soon-cheol stated, "We are considering relocating some TV and home appliance production to minimize the impact of tariffs."

Currently, Samsung operates a washing machine factory in Newberry, South Carolina, and is building a foundry (semiconductor contract manufacturing) facility in Taylor, Texas, with plans to invest over $37 billion (approximately 54 trillion KRW) by 2030. The plant is expected to begin operations next year.

Additionally, Samsung manufactures home appliances such as TVs, refrigerators, and dryers in Querétaro and Tijuana, Mexico.

While there may be discussions about shifting some of the production volume from Mexico to the U.S., there has been no official announcement regarding the establishment of large new facilities.

Industry experts suggest that President Trump's remarks may have been based on an interpretation of Samsung's plans to relocate production sites, or that he mentioned it as part of emphasizing the success of his policy.

Is it a Pressure Tactic for Tariff Negotiations? Targeting South Korea, Japan, and India

President Trump's remarks are seen as a strategy to assert the U.S.'s upper hand in tariff negotiations and apply additional pressure on key trading partners, such as South Korea.

During a town hall meeting later the same day, President Trump stated, "We can stop negotiations at any time and impose tariffs," showcasing his approach of leveraging tariffs as a tool in trade talks with foreign governments and corporations. He also mentioned, "We pay for the military in Korea, but in trade, we are just being taken advantage of."

In particular, he highlighted the large-scale investment by Taiwan's TSMC in Arizona, signaling a push for additional investments from South Korean semiconductor companies.

The U.S. government aims to resolve the tariff issue quickly after the inauguration of the new administration in July, but the South Korean government has maintained its stance to finalize negotiations after preparing a "July package" to be handled by the next administration.

Samsung's Global Production Strategy Under Pressure: Brazil Emerges as an Alternative

Meanwhile, due to the Trump administration's tough tariff policies, Samsung Electronics faces the inevitable need to revise its global production strategy. The U.S. has announced a 25% tariff on South Korean products and a 46% tariff on Vietnamese goods, while imposing only a 10% tariff on Brazilian products, making Brazil an increasingly attractive production base.

Samsung has yet to finalize specific plans for relocating production and is maintaining a cautious stance.

Samsung Electronics Stock Outlook: "Downward Rigidity Increased, but Further Upside Requires Resolution of Uncertainties"

Samsung Electronics reported solid performance in Q1 of 2025, but recent analysis suggests that the stock has experienced increased downward rigidity.

In a report on May 2, Samsung Securities stated, "While the decline in the memory and foundry sectors has slowed and the bottom has been confirmed, the stock is unlikely to see a full rebound based solely on hitting the bottom."

For further stock price increases, the report emphasized the need for the resolution of both domestic and external uncertainties, as well as a recovery in earnings. As a result, Samsung Securities maintained its target price for Samsung Electronics at 74,000 KRW and its "Buy" recommendation.

Lee Jong-wook, an analyst at Samsung Securities, noted, "With the current price-to-book ratio (PBR) at 0.9x, the stock shows increased downward rigidity, but there is still insufficient momentum for a trend-based upward movement." He further added, "Visibility for a rise in general DRAM prices is expected through the second half of the year, and long-term, tight DRAM supply is anticipated."

Regarding the tariff issue, Samsung Electronics believes that the worst phase of the U.S. tariff policy has passed. While uncertainties remain about the timing and scope of tariffs on semiconductor products, the very announcement of the tariff policy can be seen as resolving some of the uncertainties.

Additionally, while it will take more time to secure competitiveness in AI semiconductors, there is an outlook that new opportunities may emerge in the competition for AI devices and memory for devices after the AI infrastructure investment cycle. However, if the growth of the HBM market accelerates next year and Samsung Electronics is slow to secure competitiveness, this could become a burden on the stock price.

Samsung Securities forecasted, "The key factors for stock price growth in the third quarter will be further increases in DRAM prices, resolution of tariff uncertainties, and the recovery of AI competitiveness." Industry experts note that while Samsung Electronics' stock may experience limited movement in the short term, attention is focused on whether there will be additional rebounds depending on performance improvements in the second half and the easing of global uncertainties.

Photo: Yonhap News, Samsung Electronics, KBS1 '2025 Big Quest'