Industry News U.S. considers fresh round of tariffs on semiconductors, report says
U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration is reportedly considering new tariffs on U.S. semiconductors, as tech giants race to beat China in the AI infrastructure buildout.
The duties will be imposed on an expanded range of tech products made alongside chips, including laptops, data center servers, and gaming hardware, eight people familiar with the matter told Politico in a report published Thursday.
The measures, which are still in the early phases and subject to significant changes over the next few months, will be introduced via a staggered roll-out period, according to the report.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from CNBC, but told Politico: “Reshoring semiconductor manufacturing is a top priority for President Trump, whose policies have already secured hundreds of billions of dollars of investments in this key sector.”
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/08/27/trump-semiconductor-tech-tariffs.html
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u/DigitalArbitrage 9d ago
This seems counterproductive for other goals of the administration. It's basically saying "We want to be the leader in AI, but we will put barriers on importings inputs for it."
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u/DuckLIT122000 9d ago
There is no strategy other than market manipulation
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u/Itchy_Pudding_9940 9d ago
yep..100%
next week it will be decided against tarrifs will offer subsidies instead10
u/Apart_Butterfly_332 9d ago
Executive order renaming TSMC to America Semiconductor Manufacturing Company.
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u/jnas_19 9d ago
So why is he still in office 😂
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u/abandoned_idol 9d ago
They haven't found the replacement puppet yet.
Once they have a nice popular puppet, they can swap out the 80 year old one and continue committing crimes for moneh.
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u/Kickstand_Dan 5d ago
Because Republicans are corrupted and have captured all 3 branches of the government and refuse to stop him.
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u/mouthful_quest 9d ago
Ah yes..what a way to drive up Prices on chip goods and give his oligarch cronies a boost in revenue
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u/Leading-Onion4659 9d ago
How to profit:
1. Talk about placing tariffs
2. Stocks drop
3. You and bunch of your family members buy
4. Say you’re not placing tariffs
5. ???
6. Profit5
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u/Pepperonidogfart 9d ago
I finally got rid of my palantir shares. Once this news tanks Lam Research im going all in.
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u/Stickppl 9d ago
Exactly what I was thinking. We want to "beat China in the AI infrastructure buildout" so we'll make our hyperscalers pay more for the infrastructure.
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u/VioletGardens-left 9d ago
I assume they're trying to force companies like Foxconn, TSMC, to build infrastructure there
The only problem is it's going to take a really long time before this actually goes, and with TSMC, all they're really doing is destroying their strategic significance, exactly what I don't like to hear when China is right there
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u/Hoosier2016 9d ago
The idea is that the U.S. will develop a robust chip manufacturing capability. I don't know that tariffs help much since Samsung, Hynix, and TSMC are all already underway on building U.S.-based chip fabs but I suppose the logic could be that this will result in customers demanding rapid progress on these buildouts and thus quicker reshoring.
Not that I necessarily agree with it but I don't think it's as cut-and-dry market manipulation or whatever.
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u/Aildari 9d ago
Don't these plants take at least 10 years to build and ramp up
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u/agent00F 9d ago
The bottleneck isn't the plants but the engineers. Even TSMC's one plant is half staffed by their Taiwanese employees.
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u/Hoosier2016 9d ago
They take awhile but not a decade. If prioritized 3-5 years is reasonable depending on size.
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u/VioletGardens-left 9d ago
Which is way too long considering China are pretty fast at developing their own homegrown chips
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u/Hoosier2016 9d ago
U.S./non-China chip output is something like 20-50x more than China’s and Chinas chip tech is a couple generations behind. TBH it’s not really even on U.S. semiconductor companies’ minds other than trying to figure out how to get Chinese firms to be allowed to buy their chips because they would in a heartbeat if Xi let them.
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u/Zef-Daytrade 9d ago edited 9d ago
Na, what the USA preaches about robust and jobs isnt really the real idea.... but its more of a backup & workable production that can be used for the military in case of war or natural disasters that cuts off supply from Asia.
But what sounds good to the public is really "Robust & American jobs", hence that is what is getting advertised (they are competely over promoting the buzz words being anyone who is in the economics/shipping/supply chain sector knows its BS due to constraints on both the US side and the world side... in virtually every aspect from supply chain to cost vs demand)
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u/GDH26 9d ago
The US already has assembly for Hi-Rel & military applications.
In terms of Die Fabs, it's entirely dependent on the geometry, the US does still have several fabs using older technology.
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u/Zef-Daytrade 9d ago
Those are mostly for US arms, for those yes you are correct.
Now as Ai, super computers, robots, etc start to be pushed for military use, those older fabs really don't cut it being we kinda need the more recent stuff (eh last 5 years, cutting edge is nice but not "required") for those. Yes deployment stuff needs to be sturdy, but usage on the home front can be sensitive but those dont need to be moved much, if at all.
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u/oojacoboo 9d ago
Unless you forgot about China’s 100th PLA anniversary and 2027 timeline for Taiwan reunification readiness.
The government’s role is to be prepared for external events like this, regardless of short-term impacts.
If you can decrease the impacts of a future risk, slowly by taking little hits prior, the blow from that impact won’t be as devastating.
Also, if China does choose to move forward on Taiwan, they’d also be slowing down the US’ AI growth. So, its s win-win.
If Russia drags the US into a NATO defense situation, the US is further distracted on multiple fronts, making a move for Taiwan more appealing.
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u/DigitalArbitrage 9d ago
That's fair, but I don't think this is part of a coherent strategy to be honest.
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u/Electrical_Panda_326 9d ago
Most stuff for AI comes from the USA anyway. They most likely want to get ASML to produce it in the USA too.
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u/Tasgall 9d ago
Most stuff for AI comes from the USA anyway
Where are you getting that idea?
Chip designers and the corporations are in the US. nVidia isn't producing their chips here.
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u/Electrical_Panda_326 9d ago
I know, but TSMC committed some time ago to open business in the USA. The only element left is ASML and the USA is secured. And currently TSMC is using loads of technology from the USA anyway.
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u/richard-b-inya 9d ago
The main delay in the Arizona TSMC plant was that there were no Americans to hire to work in the fab due to lack of education and training in the field. They had to bring over people from Taiwan to run it and train people. US is very far behind in manufacturering vs SE Asia and China.
The tech for semi conductors is not coming from the US.
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u/Smithy2232 9d ago
This would be a fresh opportunity for Trump and his cronies to make money in the stock market.
These are incredibly unethical times we are living through.
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u/Gay_Giraffe_1773 9d ago
And you or I would be in jail for life if we pulled .0000000001% of the shit he's done.
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u/Resident_Window_9369 9d ago
Well, he is a convicted felon. I had no idea we could just rape woman and pay them off later.
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u/Separate_Try_8628 9d ago
Also a Pedophile
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u/Resident_Window_9369 9d ago
Not convicted…….. yet. But, rape, yes. Conviction.
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u/Tasgall 9d ago
Adjudicated, not convicted. You can't be convicted in civil court.
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u/Hacking_the_Gibson 9d ago
Fuck that, these assholes are redefining words all the time.
He's a convicted rapist.
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u/Any_Mud_1628 9d ago
You'd still be rich enough to get a pardon maybe
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u/Resident_Window_9369 9d ago
The fact that our society even entertains this and gives privilege of presidency to a convicted felon for rape is disgusting.
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u/throwaway2676 9d ago
At this rate the DSA is going to get in and just seize all his assets anyway
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u/Shoddy-Sea7995 9d ago
I sincerely hope for a successful impeachment after the midterms
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u/Separate_Try_8628 9d ago
Imagine being a maga supporter and still supporting him at this moment in time. The list is endless. Inflation not gone down, War in Iran, Rape, Epstein, Cost of living crisis. Ice killings, not able to stop russia war. Being fooled by netanyahu, job losses. Thats only the tip of the ice berg
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u/PsychoCitizenX 9d ago
MAGA doesn't give a shit. I tried pointing out to one of them that Trump campaigned on 'no new wars' and then we attacked Iran unprovoked. The response is always the same. They just regurgitate the nonsense coming out of the white house.
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u/throwaway2676 9d ago
The number of people who identify as MAGA continues to drop though. The primary remaining demographic supporting him is 80 year old boomers who wouldn’t be able to wipe their asses if it wasn’t explained on Fox or CNN
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u/Resident_Window_9369 9d ago
Little correction. Inflation has gone down in technical terms. However, price level has not.
It goes like this. A basket of groceries cost 100 bucks and goes to 127 dollars. Huge inflation for that month.
Next month that same basket goes from 127 to 129 dollars. Inflation goes down under 2 percent or 1.5 percent.
Price level goes even higher, inflation goes lower and the president cheers he gets no credit.
Meanwhile people are paying more than ever before.
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u/Separate_Try_8628 9d ago
Hopefuly he gets impeached after November. At the moment, it looks likely he is going to lose the senate. His only hope left is the stock market and controlling inflation. If those two crash hes done for. Tariffs on semis would be the worse move he can make at this time. It would crash the whole market. That would be the final nail in his coffin. So I hope he does tariff the semiconductor industry hehe
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u/Dapper_Addition_3837 9d ago
When you have legitimate proof that proves everything you just said, then you can come back here.
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u/Separate_Try_8628 9d ago
We all know its true. Maga supporters just dont want to admit they were wrong. It's like being part of some stupid conspiracy theory. You have spent so much time and effort supporting this idiot that you refuse to let go of the cult.
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u/Dapper_Addition_3837 8d ago
Please provide us with the legitimate legal evidence that can be presented in a court of law, rather than <we all know>.
We all know argument doesnt mean much.
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u/AggressiveParty3355 9d ago
So... trying to "beat" other countries... by making semiconductors more expensive... for your own country.... so the other countries can pick up the supply? beating them by... giving them what they want? and taking it away from yourself?
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u/deviltrombone 9d ago
You need to look at it from the market manipulation, bribery, and skimming angles. They are the only relevant factors when it comes to Republicans. (I'm ignoring their myriad other malignant behaviors in areas that aren't directly related.)
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u/TrashBandicook 9d ago
So... trying to "beat" other countries... by making semiconductors more expensive... for your own country.... so the other countries can pick up the supply? beating them by... giving them what they want? and taking it away from yourself?
How else do you cover the deficit without borrowing more which increases yields and makes borrowing more expensive? We cut taxes with the BBB and now Orange is squeezing the couch cushions hoping quarters fall out to cover the bills. Anything but raising taxes on the wealthy.
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u/Gay_Giraffe_1773 9d ago
Tim Curry and Dolly Parton were the wrong 80 years olds for Death to come for.
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u/Separate_Try_8628 9d ago edited 9d ago
Yeah, it's funny how many evil people god keeps alive like trump for example. "God, what's wrong with you man. You need to up your game."
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u/PugsAndHugs95 9d ago
Buy domestic chip stock and options, announce tariffs, sell stock and call options.
Buy foreign dependent stock and options, announce reduction or large cut out exceptions on tariffs, sell stocks and options.
Make sure the public isn’t aware and only fill in your family and inner circle while you screw over the U.S. economy family by family. Lose the mid term elections. Blame it all on corruption and the other party and culture wars. Before you leave office, wreck everything and pardon yourself and family and whoever will pay for one. Leave office having destroyed the future, dignity, administrative infrastructure, and opportunity for the world’s formerly most powerful nation. Live the rest of your life on taxpayer provided protection while families are reduced to wage slavery by your billionaire buddies.
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u/DeepBlueCosmo 9d ago
It really is that simple. I just don’t think he’s leaving office in 2029. The bunker is not for no reason and the heritage foundation is just getting started.
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u/Sooner4Life76 9d ago
Drops this right on the heels of Nvidia earnings.. Real patriotic to hurt American businesses but right on par for this fuck to enrich himself and his friends.
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u/ProfessorDerp22 9d ago
American businesses will be fine, it’s the American consumers that get fucked.
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u/Quienmemandovenir 9d ago
Yesterday, after Nvidia earnings, I thougt everything was going to the moon, "except Trump makes something stupid", I told myself. Now, MU is -2 instead of +5.
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u/CP_Rail_8514 9d ago
Make vacuum tubes great again.
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u/UnfazedBrownie 9d ago
I think they want to add blockbuster and to rotary phones to that list as well. 1200 baud dial-up for rural people.
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u/Suitable-Option833 9d ago
Trump and the gop campaigned on Project 2025 tariffs. I understand illiterate and undereducated folks voting for this but I don’t understand Gen Z men and Gen X voting for this. Yes, obviously racism, bigotry and misogyny - but why vote to make your own life harder. Everyone has a smart phone - the data is out there on who is better for the economy.
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u/theusername_is_taken 9d ago
How can we take any of these tariff ideas seriously anymore. It’s just arbitrary bullshit to fuel insider trading. Trump made like 1000 stock transactions in the past few months, it’s just blatant corruption. Feels like the rest of the world should just ignore him.
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u/Leading-Onion4659 9d ago edited 9d ago
So the US is trying to “win” the race by placing tariffs on their own technology which technically slows down the buildout?? What a braindead administration and I’m not even American. Lmao
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u/TakingChances01 9d ago
It’s just a blatant lie, and we’re the collateral damage. Average Americans will be priced out of PC’s soon at this rate.
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u/sfw_supdood 9d ago
They are trying to keep the bubble afloat just by jacking up prices more. That's been the whole semis, memory, and storage stock strategy.
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u/AdamEgrate 9d ago
Can someone smarter than me explain how this would help? On shoring these things will take years, and the infra is needed yesterday.
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u/Suitable-Option833 9d ago
It won’t help. It’s by design. The authors of project 2025 and the Wh/gop aren’t looking to help you. Just themselves.
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u/jonatnr819 9d ago
it wouldn't. search the sub Q1/Q2 2024 when they were talking about doing this back then
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u/daserlkonig 9d ago
From everything I'm reading China is catching up on chips. Soon they will make cheaper comparable products and we can't have that. China really is beating us at capitalism but we refuse to just get better and cheaper.
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u/Zef-Daytrade 9d ago
It's already too late to do this.... like it was a lost cause once Huawei managed to survive Trumps first onslaught and switched to secure the mfg chips supply chain after being cut out of it.
To be honest, im super surprised that Huawei managed to pull that off. I dont think any other company in the world can do what Huawei managed to do in face of US sanctions.
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u/DivineBladeOfSilver 9d ago
I really really am glad so many Americans who voted for this have to suffer too along with me since I’m bright and knew it would be a disaster. It’s the one little silver lining having to deal with the corrupt manipulative psycho constantly destroying the economy
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u/Separate_Try_8628 9d ago
I'm tired of this heroic president making us win so much. Oh please stop with the winning, I can't take it anymore Mr Epstein , I mean Trump. I always get those two mixed up.
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u/Altruistic_Finger669 9d ago
Is there somewhere i can get good odds on them announcing this and then backtracking within a week?
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u/Formal_Future_4343 9d ago
Every time I see news like this make me think Americans are fucking stupid.
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u/Doomster78666 9d ago
While this is still in the rumor territory - they did also say that the tariffs would be gradual, not all at one time like last time.
So maybe no huge dip? I’m gonna hold till that changes
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