Trump Administration Considers Expanding Tariffs to Semiconductors and Tech Goods

The administration of US President Donald Trump is mulling a new round of tariffs on semiconductors, with the White House considering an expansion of the number of tech products subject to the duties, according to a Politico report cited by TASS. The potential measures could hit not just chips but also many goods made with them, such as laptops, gaming consoles, or the servers that fill data centers, sources told Politico.

US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick reportedly favors a structure that would tie foreign companies' relief from the tariffs to investment in US chip manufacturing, aiming to boost domestic production. The administration is also eyeing a phase-in period for the new tariffs, though the framework could still be substantially revised in the coming weeks or months, according to the report.

Industry Concerns and Potential Impact

US tech companies believe the move could "doom US hopes of dominating artificial intelligence," as the tech industry is already grappling with a shortage of high-end semiconductors. The economic restrictions would primarily hit Nvidia and Apple, according to Politico's reporting, though the exact scope of the tariffs remains unclear.

A source familiar with the matter told Politico that the buildout of domestic chip manufacturing would take more than five years, suggesting that any immediate boost to US production from the tariffs would be slow to materialize.

The proposal reflects ongoing tensions between the administration's trade policy goals and the tech industry's concerns about supply chain disruptions and competitiveness. While the administration has not yet finalized details, the reported framework indicates a strategic push to strengthen domestic semiconductor production, albeit with potential short-term costs for major US tech firms.