A plan reported on October 8 could tie exemptions in a prospective U.S. semiconductor-tariff round to domestic production capacity, potentially increasing pressure on Samsung Electronics and SK hynix. The reported arrangement would make U.S. production a factor in how much companies could import tariff-free.
A reported plan could link exemptions to U.S. production
The reported proposal describes a second round of chip tariffs, with exemptions potentially tied to companies’ U.S. production capacity. Howard Lutnick discussed a semiconductor tariff framework under development in a video published September 2.
The Taiwan model has two reported capacity limits
For Taiwan, the reported model would allow tariff-free imports of up to 2.5 times new U.S. production capacity while facilities are under construction, then up to 1.5 times that capacity after construction is complete. Those figures describe the reported Taiwan model.
The existing 25% duty covers specified chips
A separate measure is already in effect. A presidential proclamation signed on January 14, 2026, established a 25% ad valorem duty—a tariff calculated as a share of value—on specified advanced computing chips and certain derivative products. It took effect on January 15. The presidential proclamation lists use-based exceptions, including U.S. data centers, repairs or replacements in the United States, U.S. research and development, startups, consumer applications outside data centers, specified civil-industrial uses and public-sector applications.
The proclamation also recites Commerce Department findings that the United States consumes roughly one-quarter of the world’s semiconductors and fully manufactures about 10% of the chips it requires.
Samsung Electronics and SK hynix are building U.S. facilities
Samsung Electronics is building a production facility in Taylor, Texas, while SK hynix is building facilities in Indiana. The reported tariff pressure on Korean chipmakers is separate from a $200 billion U.S. investment package under discussion between Seoul and Washington.
The tariff proposal is also distinct from SK hynix and Intel’s earlier exploratory talks about U.S. memory-chip production.
