---
title: "Trump Prepares New Tariff Package on Semiconductors and Chip-Based Technology"
description: "The Trump administration is discussing a new tariff package on semiconductors that could cover laptops, gaming consoles, and servers. The final structure of the duties has not been determined."
date: 2026-08-27T12:52:05.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/trump-tariffs-semiconductors-chip-tech
tags: [us-tariffs, semiconductors, trump-administration, trade-policy, chips]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Trump Prepares New Tariff Package on Semiconductors and Chip-Based Technology

![Donald Trump in front of the US flag discusses a new tariff package on semiconductors and chip-based electronics](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/27/trump-tariffs-semiconductors-tech/trump-tariffs-semiconductors-tech-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- The Trump administration is discussing a tariff package covering not only chips but also laptops, gaming consoles, and data center servers.
- Trade Secretary Howard Lutnick supports an exemption from duties in exchange for investment in chip production in the US.
- Reuters could not independently confirm Politico's data; the White House and the Commerce Department did not comment on the reports.
- Context: US-Canada talks ended without an agreement, and a duty of up to 50% is being prepared for Canadian goods.

The administration of US President Donald Trump, according to media reports, is working out a new package of tariff restrictions that could affect not only the direct import of semiconductors but also a wide range of finished technological products containing microchips. This is reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing a Reuters publication. If implemented in the form under discussion, the initiative would significantly expand the scope of Washington's current trade policy and affect end consumers and corporate customers worldwide.

### Expansion of the List of Taxed Goods

Under the proposal under consideration, tariffs are planned to apply not only to the chips themselves but to a broader range of technological products. In particular, the list includes laptops, gaming consoles, and data center servers. Thus, the initiative under discussion goes beyond the direct import of semiconductors and affects finished devices, which could lead to higher prices for electronics and cloud computing infrastructure. At the same time, the final structure of the future tariffs, their rates, and the exact list of items have not yet been determined.

### Exemption Mechanism Through Investment in the US

US Trade Secretary Howard Lutnick, according to Politico, supports a mechanism under which foreign companies could obtain an exemption from the new duties based on the volume of their investments in American chip production. According to the publication, such a scheme is intended to stimulate the expansion of semiconductor output within the US and the relocation of supply chains to American soil. The phased introduction of new tariffs is also being considered as one of the options, although the parameters of this scheme may still change significantly in the coming weeks or months.

### Contradictory Data

It is important to note that Reuters was unable to independently confirm the information previously published by Politico. The White House and the US Department of Commerce did not respond promptly to the agency's requests for comment. This means that the details of the package — the list of goods, rates, timelines, and exemption conditions — remain at the discussion stage and have not been officially confirmed. In addition, discrepancies in the chronology and scope of tariff measures are recorded in open sources: some publications refer to rates that have already taken effect and to specific commodity groups (such as automobiles), which should not be conflated with the semiconductor and technology package currently under discussion. Until official statements from Washington, all parameters of the initiative should be considered preliminary.

### Context: Breakdown of Negotiations with Canada

The new discussions on semiconductors are taking place against the backdrop of a general tightening of the administration's trade policy. We remind you that trade negotiations between the US and Canada ended without reaching a tariff agreement, so the parties were unable to avoid new restrictions. The Donald Trump administration has already identified a list of Canadian goods that, under the new measures, may be subject to a 50% duty. This indicates that Washington's tariff course is systemic in nature and affects multiple commodity categories and trading partners simultaneously.

### What Comes Next

In the coming weeks, the key question will be whether the administration can agree on the final structure of tariffs and the exemption conditions for foreign manufacturers. If the mechanism linking duties to investment in American production is approved, it could become a tool of pressure on foreign companies to relocate chip production to the US. For electronics markets, IT infrastructure, and end consumers, the consequences depend on which specific items and in what volumes fall under the restrictions. XAB.info will be monitoring official comments from the White House and the US Department of Commerce.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- [Media Learn of Trump's Plans for New Duties](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/zmi-diznalisya-plani-trampa-novi-mita-1787834924.html) - Основной источник: подтверждает обсуждение тарифного пакета на чипы и технику (ноутбуки, консоли, серверы), механизм освобождения через инвестиции, неуверенность Reuters и отсутствие комментария Белого дома/Минторга.
- [Donald Trump Says He Will Raise US Tariffs on EU Cars to 25%](https://ru.euronews.com/my-europe/2026/05/01/donald-tramp-zayavil-chto-povysit-tarify-ssha-na-avtomobili-es-do-25) - Относится к автомобильным тарифам (май 2026), а не к полупроводникам; использован только как фон, не подтверждает основную тему.
- [US Tariff Duties Take Effect on August 7. What Awaits Countries That Could Not Reach an Agreement With ...](https://www.rfi.fr/ru/%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%89%D0%B8%D0%B9/20250801-%D1%82%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%B8%D1%84%D0%BD%D1%8B%D0%B5-%D0%BF%D0%BE%D1%88%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%BD%D1%8B-%D1%81%D1%88%D0%B0-%D0%B2%D1%81%D1%82%D1%83%D0%BF%D1%8F%D1%82-%D0%B2-%D1%81%D0%B8%D0%BB%D1%83-7-%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B3%D1%83%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B0-%D1%87%D1%82%D0%BE-%D0%B6%D0%B4%D0%B5%D1%82-%D1%81%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%8B-%D0%BA%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%BE%D1%80%D1%8B%D0%B5-%D0%BD%D0%B5-%D1%81%D0%BC%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BB%D0%B8-%D0%B4%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B8%D1%82%D1%8C%D1%81%D1%8F-%D1%81-%D0%B4%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%BB%D1%8C%D0%B4%D0%BE%D0%BC-%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%BC) - Контекстный источник о вступлении в силу тарифных ставок и странах без соглашения; URL содержит дату 2025, что требует сверки с актуальной датой 27.08.2026 — возможно, речь о ранее вступивших ставках.
- [Trump Delays the Introduction of Duties on EU Cars: How This Could Affect Ukraine](https://www.obozrevatel.com/ekonomika-glavnaya/economy/tramp-otlozhil-vvedenie-poshlinyi-na-avto-iz-es-kak-eto-mozhet-povliyat-na-ukrainu.htm) - Также по автомобильной тематике; не подтверждает тарифный пакет по чипам, применен лишь как общий контекст торговой политики.

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: Which goods could be subject to the new tariffs?
**A:** According to Reuters, citing Politico, the scope under discussion covers not only the semiconductors themselves but also finished technology using them: laptops, gaming consoles, and data center servers. The final list of items has not been determined.

### Q: Can companies avoid the new duties?
**A:** Trade Secretary Howard Lutnick supports a mechanism under which foreign companies receive an exemption from duties based on their investment in American chip production. The scheme is intended to stimulate semiconductor output in the US.

### Q: Has this information been officially confirmed?
**A:** No. Reuters was unable to independently confirm Politico's data, and the White House and the US Department of Commerce did not respond to requests for comment. Therefore, the parameters of the package are considered preliminary.

### Q: How does this relate to Canada?
**A:** US-Canada talks ended without a tariff agreement, and the Trump administration has identified a list of Canadian goods that may be subject to a duty of up to 50%. This is part of a general tightening of trade policy against which the semiconductor package is also being discussed.