US Chipmakers Urge Trump to Drop Semiconductor Tariffs

The Trump administration's plan to impose tariffs on imported semiconductor chips has met strong opposition from key players in the U.S. semiconductor industry. Following TSMC's public appeal against the tariffs, four major American semiconductor firms—Intel, Qualcomm, Micron Technology, and Texas Instruments—have collectively submitted detailed statements urging the U.S. government to exempt semiconductors from import duties. These companies warn that such tariffs could significantly undermine the strength and competitiveness of the U.S. semiconductor sector.

TSMC previously submitted a formal objection through its Arizona subsidiary to the U.S. Department of Commerce, opposing the proposed tariffs. The recent joint opposition by Intel, Qualcomm, Micron, and Texas Instruments signals that TSMC's concerns reflect a broader industry consensus rather than an isolated stance.

Recognizing the critical role these four U.S. firms play across vital semiconductor fields—including integrated circuit design, manufacturing, and memory—their unified message aims to encourage the administration to reconsider the tariffs, potentially averting a damaging trade policy crisis for the chip industry.

In response to President Trump's tariff proposal, the U.S. Department of Commerce sought public input by May 7, receiving a total of 154 submissions as of May 25. Notably, Qualcomm's response spanned 15 pages, Intel's 13 pages, and Micron's 11 pages, each exceeding TSMC's eight-page submission. This highlights the heightened concern among American companies about the proposed tariffs.

While all four companies support the "Made in America" initiative, they emphasize that imposing tariffs on semiconductor imports would jeopardize the U.S.'s leadership position in the global semiconductor market. The companies caution that increased costs could prompt manufacturing relocation abroad and negatively impact the broader economy.

Intel emphasized that establishing new semiconductor fabrication facilities in the U.S. requires substantial capital investment. Tariffs on semiconductors and manufacturing equipment would raise costs and discourage domestic facility development, ultimately weakening U.S. competitiveness in this strategic industry.

Qualcomm highlighted its ongoing reliance on foreign wafer fabs, including those in Taiwan and South Korea, for the majority of its production. The company warned that immediate tariff implementation without sufficient transition support would hinder investments in U.S.-based manufacturing capacity, risking the erosion of American technological leadership.

Micron warned that tariffs on semiconductor manufacturing equipment could severely damage the domestic manufacturing ecosystem by raising the costs of building new fabs in the U.S., potentially making them commercially unviable compared to overseas alternatives.

Texas Instruments called for policies that balance the promotion of U.S. semiconductor manufacturing with maintaining global market participation flexibility, ensuring that efforts to enhance national and economic security do not compromise U.S. manufacturers' competitiveness worldwide.

Industry analysts note that whether tariffs target TSMC alone or extend to other major technology firms, the increased costs would ultimately be borne across the semiconductor supply chain, with U.S. companies facing significant price pressures. The extensive and detailed submissions from leading American chipmakers underscore the serious concerns surrounding the potential impact of semiconductor tariffs.