日本語
한국어
Tiếng Việt
简体中文
Despite major investments in U.S. chip manufacturing by companies like TSMC, former President Trump remains committed to imposing tariffs on semiconductors produced overseas.
During a recent public appearance, Trump indicated his intention to implement these import taxes “down the road,” though he didn’t specify a timeline. His previous proposals included a potential 25% tariff on processors, but details regarding its implementation, interaction with existing tariffs, and scope (individual chips vs. products containing chips) remain unclear.
This tariff discussion follows earlier criticism of the CHIPS Act and coincides with a period of tech stock volatility.
Stock performance for key players has been mixed. TSMC shares are down 15% year-to-date, while Nvidia (NVDA) has seen a 16% decrease. AMD (AMD) has experienced an 11% drop, and Broadcom (AVGO) has fallen by 25%. Intel (INTC), however, is up 17%, largely due to a new CEO appointment and speculation about TSMC potentially taking over some of its manufacturing.
The U.S. imports significantly fewer individual chips than finished products containing them, such as smartphones, cars, appliances, and computers.
The global nature of semiconductor manufacturing further complicates the tariff issue.
Willy Shih, a Harvard Business School professor, explains that chips often cross multiple borders during production. Raw silicon wafers might originate from Japan, Taiwan, or Germany, undergo processing in another location, and then be sent elsewhere for dicing and packaging. Finally, they are integrated into printed circuit boards.
Shih emphasizes the complexity of the situation, stating, “What they’re proposing is much more complicated than maybe they appreciate.”
The Semiconductor Supply Chain: A Global Web
Chip manufacturing typically involves a multi-stage process spanning various countries. This includes creating silicon wafers, printing circuits onto them, cutting them into individual chips, and packaging them as semiconductors. These processors are then integrated into electronic devices worldwide.
The supply chain extends beyond the chips themselves. The availability of essential chemicals, like neon gas (critical for lasers used in chip production), can also be disrupted, as highlighted by concerns during the Russia-Ukraine conflict when Ukraine, a major neon supplier, faced disruptions.
In conclusion, implementing tariffs on semiconductors is a complex issue with potential repercussions for the global technology industry and the supply chains that support it.