The U.S. Department of Commerce is reportedly planning tariff carve-outs for AI hyperscalers within the country, including Amazon, Google, and Microsoft, among others. According to the Financial Times, the move will allow these companies to acquire the chips they need to remain competitive in the AI race, while still pushing chip makers like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) to continue investing in the U.S.
Taiwan and the U.S. agreed on a trade deal last month, with Washington cutting tariffs on the island from 20% to 15% in exchange for a $250-billion commitment on direct investments, plus another $250 billion in credit guarantees from Taipei to allow its companies to invest in the American semiconductor industry. The 15% tariff is set to include chips made on the island, but Taiwanese companies building fabs in the U.S. will get an exemption.
