Graphics cards were previously targeted in Trump's aluminum-focused tariffs, but the industry is still bracing for chip-specific tariffs.
Last week, Trump said his chip-focused tariffs are slated to arrive “very soon” as their own separate category.
The other issue is that Trump has threatened to raise his tariffs on China to 104% by Wednesday, which could drastically increase prices on all kinds of products imported from the country. His reciprocal tariffs will also impose a 32% duty on imports from Taiwan — another major market for electronics manufacturing.
The official order includes an annex that lists the 15 related semiconductor imports that are exempt. They include "Electronic integrated circuits: processors and controllers," "Electronic integrated circuits: memories," and "Parts of electronic integrated circuits and micro assemblies."
(Credit: Federal Register)
Missing from the exemptions are tariff codes 8473.30.1180 and 84733011, which cover graphics cards. So, at first glance, it looks like Trump’s order ensnares GPUs, a crucial component for PC gaming. But the Consumer Technology Association (CTA)—the major lobbying group for the electronics industry—says Trump’s order exempts GPUs in a different way.
The order excludes imports that were previously targeted in Trump’s aluminum-focused tariffs, which went into effect last month. The 25% tariff on aluminum imports already covers GPUs and PC cases since US Customs considers them "aluminum derivative" products.
In other words, Trump’s latest order doesn’t add new tariffs for GPUs—it merely leaves them subject to the aluminum-focused tariffs already in place, which have also been squeezing PC vendors. Any GPUs imported from the country also fall under Trump's existing 20% tariff on Chinese goods from March.
Last week, Trump said his chip-focused tariffs are slated to arrive “very soon” as their own separate category.
The other issue is that Trump has threatened to raise his tariffs on China to 104% by Wednesday, which could drastically increase prices on all kinds of products imported from the country. His reciprocal tariffs will also impose a 32% duty on imports from Taiwan — another major market for electronics manufacturing.
The official order includes an annex that lists the 15 related semiconductor imports that are exempt. They include "Electronic integrated circuits: processors and controllers," "Electronic integrated circuits: memories," and "Parts of electronic integrated circuits and micro assemblies."
(Credit: Federal Register)
Missing from the exemptions are tariff codes 8473.30.1180 and 84733011, which cover graphics cards. So, at first glance, it looks like Trump’s order ensnares GPUs, a crucial component for PC gaming. But the Consumer Technology Association (CTA)—the major lobbying group for the electronics industry—says Trump’s order exempts GPUs in a different way.
The order excludes imports that were previously targeted in Trump’s aluminum-focused tariffs, which went into effect last month. The 25% tariff on aluminum imports already covers GPUs and PC cases since US Customs considers them "aluminum derivative" products.
In other words, Trump’s latest order doesn’t add new tariffs for GPUs—it merely leaves them subject to the aluminum-focused tariffs already in place, which have also been squeezing PC vendors. Any GPUs imported from the country also fall under Trump's existing 20% tariff on Chinese goods from March.