U.S. to Implement Targeted Semiconductor Tariffs

2026-09-03

The United States is preparing to implement a differentiated semiconductor tariff system centered on production location, directly linking tariff rates to whether manufacturing operations are based in the United States. Companies that build production facilities in the U.S. stand to receive tariff exemptions or reductions, while those relying on overseas capacity to supply the American market will face heavy tax burdens.

Differentiated Tariffs

U.S. to Implement Targeted Semiconductor Tariffs

According to a White House announcement dated January 14, the United States imposed a 25% tariff on advanced computing chips including NVIDIA's H200 and AMD's MI325X under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, effective January 15. However, the policy includes clear exemption pathways: imports used for U.S. data centers, research and development institutions, startups, public-sector projects, or those that help strengthen the American technology supply chain are exempt from the tariff.

More strategically, the Trump administration is advancing second-phase negotiations to impose broader tariffs on semiconductor products, accompanied by a "tariff credit mechanism." Companies that invest in domestic semiconductor production or critical supply chain segments in the United States can enjoy tariff preferences or even full exemption. U.S. Commerce Secretary Lutnick has publicly warned that memory chip companies not investing in America could face tariffs as high as 100%.

Korean Firms Investing for Exemptions

Facing this policy pressure, Korean companies have accelerated their U.S. capacity expansion. Samsung Electronics is investing more than $37 billion to build an advanced wafer fab in Taylor, Texas, targeting operations in 2026. SK Hynix plans to invest $3.87 billion in a semiconductor packaging facility in Indiana, with mass production expected by 2028. However, compared to TSMC's increased U.S. investment plan of $100 billion, the existing investment scale of Korean firms still appears insufficient, and they may face further pressure to expand production.

Supply Chain Restructuring

Analysts note that targeted tariff policies are accelerating the restructuring of the global semiconductor supply chain. On one hand, leading companies are being compelled to shift more capacity to U.S. soil; on the other hand, unmet demand is pushing long-term supply agreements to become an industry norm. Samsung has already locked 60% to 70% of its memory capacity into long-term supply agreements, while SK Hynix has also signed three- to five-year LTAs with approximately ten core customers.

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