Trump introduces 25% tariff on export of chips, including Nvidia H200, AMD MI325X — figure could increase in the future

(Image credit: Getty / 400tmax)

In a new press release, the Trump Administration let it be known that it would apply a 25% tariff to Nvidia H200, AMD MI325X, among unspecified "advanced computer chips." This latest move partially reverses the administration's position of blocking the sale of said chips, at the time justified by concerns for national security and AI leadership.

The latest tariff's scope is extremely narrow and is purportedly pointed at promoting both domestic usage and the production of advanced chip technology. The White House's press release specifically mentions that the U.S. consumes 25% of the market, yet only produces 10%, and goes on to mention how the nation is dependent on the tech for military, energy, and medical uses, among others.

Importantly, the tariff does not apply to what can be summarized as domestic usage: stateside datacenters, R&D, startups, non-datacenter applications, and the public sector. The end result is that Nvidia and AMD's stateside customers won't pay the tariff, but anyone else will — apparently even American companies building datacenters abroad. The tariffs could also increase, as in 90 days' time, President Trump will hear again from the Secretary of Commerce to potentially make further adjustments.

It's not just a matter of exported chips commanding a higher price, too. As of yesterday, exporters must prove that domestic demand is fulfilled before sending any chips across borders. Additionally, the rule implicitly prevents companies from designing cut-down versions of their wares to get past export restrictions, like the Nvidia B40 and AMD MI308. The measures should also provide some measure of protection to prevent grey imports of certain hardware to certain countries, or at the very least, tax some of that movement.

At the time of this publication, Beijing has so far been quiet on the matter. The latest report from the East was that customs officials were being told to block imports of H200 chips altogether, forcing the hand of big players like Alibaba to use home-grown chips like those from Huawei. So, not only are these chips unlikely to be exported to China to begin with, but they'd be returned to the sender.

China isn't the only market, though, and the latest tariffs specifically target non-US datacenters. H200 and MI325X silicon can still be exported to other nations, but the latest development means that AI players will have to pay extra to make datacenters in Europe, India, and other tech-heavy zones across the globe. In President Trump's own words, "making 25% of the sale of those chips" should be a sizable influx.

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Bruno Ferreira is a contributing writer for Tom's Hardware. He has decades of experience with PC hardware and assorted sundries, alongside a career as a developer. He's obsessed with detail and has a tendency to ramble on the topics he loves. When not doing that, he's usually playing games, or at live music shows and festivals.

2 Comments Comment from the forums

JTWrenn

So is it time to start throwing hardware into the harbor yet?
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SonoraTechnical

Trump wants the USA to become a World Eater. Takeover otherwise sovereign nations and exploit them for their resources (Venzuela, Greenland, Gaza?), That mobilization costs money. So now were aren't concerned about withholding products in the interests of national security, but rather are focused on the opportunity to raise money for the gov't coffers by selling those same products.
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