Build in US or pay: Trump revives chip tariff threat - The Korea Herald

The U.S. administration has revived its push for targeted semiconductor tariffs, compelling global chipmakers to either build in the U.S. or face import duties. This move places significant pressure o... Read original →

The Trump administration’s revival of chip tariffs signals a major shift in global semiconductor supply chain dynamics. Companies like Samsung and SK Hynix, which have invested over $41 billion in U.S. chip projects, now face a stark choice: build in the U.S. or pay steep import duties. This move forces a realignment of advanced technology investments—especially in 3nm, EUV, and HBM—toward U.S. production facilities, reducing reliance on foreign manufacturing. Compliance risks are mounting, particularly for Korean firms whose R&D and packaging investments may not qualify for tariff relief. In response, TSMC and NVIDIA may accelerate capacity shifts to the U.S. to secure market access. Over the next 12–24 months, this policy will likely reshape AI chip and data center server production, driving a strategic realignment of global semiconductor manufacturing toward U.S. shores and reinforcing a new tech alliance framework.