Trump Imposes Limited Tariffs on Foreign Semiconductors
The New York Times • • business
Key Points:
- President Trump signed a proclamation imposing a 25 percent tariff on a limited list of foreign semiconductors, specifically targeting AI chips imported into the U.S. and then re-exported to other countries like China.
- The tariff excludes semiconductors imported for domestic use in data centers, American products, industry, or government, aiming to generate revenue from AI chip sales to China without broadly disrupting the domestic tech industry.
- This move is more restrained than earlier threats of sweeping tariffs, reflecting pressure from chip companies and efforts to maintain a trade truce with China, a major semiconductor manufacturer.
- The White House indicated that broader tariffs on semiconductor imports and related products could still be imposed in the future, alongside potential tariff relief programs for domestic chip manufacturers.
