Trouble Plans New Tariff Measures, Demanding "50% Domestic and 50% Imported Semiconductors"
The U.S. government is considering a new plan requiring the ratio of semiconductors manufactured domestically and imported to reach 1:1. If companies fail to meet the goal of "50% domestic production and 50% foreign imports," they will face tariff penalties. The move aims to reduce U.S. reliance on foreign semiconductors.
Reuters cited the Wall Street Journal, reporting that this policy may pose challenges for tech giants like Apple and Dell that rely on global supply chains, as these companies import a large number of products containing various chips. Under the new system, companies may have to track the source of all chips and collaborate with manufacturers to balance the proportion of U.S.-made and imported products within a certain period.
In contrast, companies actively expanding their U.S. capacity, such as TSMC, Micron, and GlobalFoundries, may benefit, gaining more leverage in negotiations with customers.
According to insiders, this plan echoes President Trump's remarks last month: technology companies that increase investments in the U.S. can avoid chip tariffs as high as 100%. However, achieving U.S. domestic capacity comparable to import volume is much more difficult than simply increasing investment, as overseas products are usually cheaper, supply chain adjustments are not easy, and expanding U.S. capacity requires a longer time.
The Wall Street Journal commented that if implemented, this policy may make an already complex tariff system even more complicated to clarify.
It is reported that U.S. Commerce Secretary Rutenberg has discussed this idea with senior executives of several semiconductor companies and emphasized the necessity of economic security. For years, the U.S. government has been concerned about its tech companies' over-reliance on overseas chip manufacturing, especially in Taiwan.
According to sources, if a company commits to producing 1 million chips in the U.S., it and its customers can be exempt from tariffs on importing the same number of chips before the factory is completed. In the initial phase of the new system, there may also be a grace period to allow companies time to adjust their production capacity layout.
The Trump administration's trade investigation into whether chip imports threaten national security is still ongoing, and new tariff measures are expected to be officially announced after the investigation concludes.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1844372464062601/
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