A 25 per cent tariff on advanced chips
A Section 232 proclamation imposed a 25 per cent duty on certain advanced computing chips and derivative products, effective 12:01 a.m. on 15 January, with broad exemptions written around end use.
Why it matters
Importing the same chips that had been made exportable the day before became more expensive, and the price began to depend on what the buyer intended to do with them.
The proclamation was signed on 14 January 2026. A 25 per cent ad valorem duty applies to certain advanced computing chips and derivative products listed in the Annex, effective for goods entered for consumption on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time on 15 January 2026. The exemptions are written around end use rather than origin: United States data centres, repairs or replacements performed in the United States, United States research and development, United States startups, non-data-centre consumer applications, non-data-centre civil industrial applications, United States public sector applications, and other uses the Secretary determines strengthen the domestic supply chain or manufacturing capacity. The Secretary and the Trade Representative must update the President on the progress of the resulting negotiations within 90 days of the proclamation.