U.S. President Donald Trump speaks throughout an occasion with Apple CEO Tim Prepare dinner within the Oval Workplace of the White Home on August 6, 2025 in Washington, DC.
Win Mcnamee | Getty Photographs
President Donald Trump mentioned Wednesday he’ll impose a 100% tariff on imports of semiconductors and chips, however not for firms which might be “constructing in america.”
The announcement of recent sector-specific tariffs exhibits Trump ratcheting up his efforts to stress companies to fabricate their merchandise within the U.S.
However specifics in regards to the plan, resembling how a lot U.S. manufacturing an organization must do to be able to qualify for the tariff exemption, weren’t instantly clear.
“We will be placing a really giant tariff on chips and semiconductors,” Trump mentioned within the Oval Workplace on Wednesday afternoon.
“However the excellent news for firms like Apple is if you happen to’re constructing in america or have dedicated to construct, with out query, dedicated to construct in america, there will likely be no cost,” he mentioned.
“So in different phrases, we’ll be placing a tariff on of roughly 100% on chips and semiconductors. However if you happen to’re constructing in america of America, there is not any cost.”
Trump had beforehand signaled that the duties on chips and semiconductors, which have change into key elements in nearly each business, may come as quickly as subsequent week.
The remarks got here after Trump touted a dedication by Apple to speculate one other $100 billion within the U.S. over the following 4 years, on prime of the $500 billion the tech big has beforehand pledged.
A number of prime chipmakers, together with Taiwan Semiconductor, Nvidia and GlobalFoundries, have already pledged to fabricate a few of their merchandise within the U.S.
They are not alone: Greater than 130 initiatives within the U.S. totaling $600 billion {dollars} have been introduced since 2020, in keeping with the Semiconductor Business Affiliation.
TSMC, the world’s largest contract chip firm, has pledged to speculate a complete of $165 billion in U.S. manufacturing.
Nvidia, the world’s most precious firm, mentioned in April that it plans to spend $500 billion on AI infrastructure within the U.S. over the following 4 years.
GlobalFoundries pledged $16 billion in June to develop its semiconductor manufacturing at amenities in New York and Vermont.
Additionally in June, Texas Devices introduced a $60 billion increase to seven chip fabs within the U.S. The corporate counts Apple, Ford, Medtronic, Nvidia and SpaceX as clients.
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