Trump Imposes 25% Tariff on Some Advanced Computing Chips | Customs & International Trade Law Blog

On January 14, 2026, President Trump signed a proclamation imposing a 25% tariff on sure semiconductors, semiconductor manufacturing tools, and their derivatives. This tariff applies to items entered for consumption, or withdrawn from a warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. EST on January 15, 2026, and can proceed indefinitely. The Administration launched a reality sheet along side the proclamation, accessible right here.

Background – 232 Investigation

The proclamation follows a nine-month Part 232 investigation into the results of imports of semiconductors on the nationwide safety of the US. The investigation, performed by the Division of Commerce, discovered that semiconductors, semiconductor manufacturing tools, and their spinoff merchandise are being imported into the US in such portions and below such circumstances as to threaten to impair the nationwide safety of the US.

The motion is a part of a broader Administration effort to create incentives for chipmakers to supply extra semiconductors within the U.S. and reduce reliance on international chip producers. The proclamation famous that the U.S. solely manufactures 10% of the chips it requires and that reliance on international producers poses a “vital financial and nationwide ‌safety threat.”

Scope – What’s Lined

“Semiconductor articles” coated by the proclamation are outlined as imported merchandise assembly sure technical parameters and which are classifiable below HTSUS 8471.50, 8471.80, or 8473.30. To be included throughout the definition of semiconductor articles, the imported merchandise have to be a logic built-in circuit, or an article that accommodates a logic built-in circuit, that meets sure technical parameters. Full technical parameters can be found within the Annex.

Exceptions:

The tariff doesn’t apply to chips that contribute to the buildout of the U.S. expertise provide chain and the strengthening of home manufacturing capability for derivatives of semiconductors.

As well as, the obligation doesn’t apply to semiconductor articles within the following classes:

To be used in U.S. knowledge facilities;
For repairs or replacements carried out in the US;
For analysis and improvement in the US involving these chips
To be used by startups in the US;
To be used in non-data middle client electronics functions in the US, together with gaming, private computing, skilled visualization, workstation functions, and automotive functions;
To be used in non-data middle civil industrial functions in the US, together with manufacturing facility robotics and industrial equipment;
To be used in United States public sector functions

The Secretary of Commerce has broad authority to increase exemptions for different classes that “contribute to the strengthening of the US expertise provide chain or home manufacturing capability for derivatives of semiconductors.”

What Importers Ought to Do 

We encourage all importers of semiconductors, semiconductor manufacturing tools, and their derivatives to evaluation the proclamation and annex to find out how their enterprise could also be affected.

As CBP and the DoJ proceed to prioritize enforcement, now greater than ever, it’s crucial for importers to look at their import compliance packages and be certain that satisfactory procedures are in place to accurately enter items into the US.

Diaz Commerce Legislation can help importers in reviewing their classification procedures, creating compliance plans, and guiding importers within the occasion of a customs investigation. Contact us at 305-456-3830 or data@diaztradelaw.com.

For the newest on tariffs, take a look at our Tariffs & Commerce Offers web page.

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