Semiconductor Tariffs: The New Chip Import Duties Explained

February 26, 2026 · 8 min read

Semiconductors have been at the center of US trade policy since the global chip shortage of 2020-2023. While the CHIPS Act focused on boosting domestic manufacturing, the January 2026 tariff adjustments take a different approach — using import duties to reshape where chips come from.

What Changed in January 2026

New tariff rates on semiconductor imports took effect January 20, 2026. The changes primarily affect HTS chapters 84 and 85, targeting:

Finished semiconductors (processors, memory chips, sensors)
Chip manufacturing equipment (lithography machines, etching tools, wafer handling)
Semiconductor materials (silicon wafers, photomasks, specialty chemicals)
Assembled circuit boards with significant semiconductor content

Key HTS Codes Affected

HTS Code	Description	Previous Rate	New Rate
`8541.10`	Diodes (excl. photosensitive/LED)	Free	Varies by origin
`8541.21`	Transistors (< 1W dissipation)	Free	Varies by origin
`8541.49`	Other semiconductor devices	Free	Varies by origin
`8542.31`	Processors and controllers	Free	Varies by origin
`8542.32`	Memories (DRAM, NAND, etc.)	Free	Varies by origin
`8542.39`	Other integrated circuits	Free	Varies by origin
`8486.20`	Chip manufacturing equipment	Free-2.5%	+10-25% on select origins

⚠️ Country of origin matters. Many semiconductor HTS codes were previously duty-free regardless of origin. The new rates are differentiated by country — chips from allied nations (Japan, Korea, Taiwan, EU) face lower or no additional duties, while chips from China face the highest rates.

The CHIPS Act Connection

These tariffs work alongside the CHIPS and Science Act's $52 billion in domestic manufacturing incentives. The strategy: make it more expensive to import chips from non-allied countries while subsidizing domestic production. Companies receiving CHIPS Act funding are also subject to guardrails preventing them from expanding advanced chip manufacturing in China.

Impact on Tech Prices

The direct price impact depends on the product:

Consumer electronics: Modest impact. Most chips in phones and laptops come from Taiwan and Korea (allied origins with lower rates)
Automotive: Mixed. Legacy chips (28nm+) from Chinese foundries face higher costs
Industrial/IoT: Potentially significant. Many commodity chips are sourced from mainland China
Data centers: Minimal for high-end AI chips (TSMC/Samsung), higher for commodity server components

What Importers Should Do

Verify country of origin for all semiconductor components in your supply chain
Check specific HTS codes on Tariff Check for current rates
Evaluate alternative sourcing if you're currently importing from high-duty origins
Document origin carefully — CBP is scrutinizing semiconductor origin claims, especially for chips that transit through third countries

📊 Look up your chip's HTS code: Use Tariff Check to search by product name or HTS code. Our data reflects the January 2026 semiconductor tariff adjustments.

Disclaimer: Semiconductor tariff rates are complex and depend on specific product classifications and country of origin. This article provides a general overview. Consult a customs broker for rate determinations specific to your products.