Trump administration plans semiconductor tariffs next week, details still vague
President Donald Trump announced on CNBC’s Squawk Box Tuesday that his administration will roll out tariffs on semiconductors and chips as soon as next week. The exact scope and specifics of these tariffs haven’t been revealed yet.
The move threatens to disrupt U.S. hardware and AI companies heavily reliant on global chip supply. The U.S. makes about 10% of worldwide chips despite hosting more than half of all global semiconductor companies. The 2022 CHIPs and Science Act pumped $52 billion into domestic chip manufacturing, helping giants like Intel and TSMC expand U.S. operations. TSMC pledged at least $100 billion over the next four years to build new plants stateside. 
But chip fabs take years to build. Intel just delayed its Ohio plant again, underscoring supply challenges.
This tariff plan follows the administration’s pending decision on AI chip export restrictions. The Trump team scrapped Biden’s layered export rules in May, then launched a vague AI Action Plan in July calling for chip export limits but without details.
Semafor reports Trump’s team is now debating whether to undo Biden’s AI export rules at all.
Trump on tariffs and AI chip exports marks more twists in the semiconductor industry’s tumultuous 2025.
For context, see our semiconductor industry timeline.
