Finance
US plans Big Tech carve-out from next chip tariffs, FT reports
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 10, 2026
1 min readLast updated: February 10, 2026
Quick Summary
The US plans to exempt Big Tech from new chip tariffs, tied to TSMC's $165 billion investment in Arizona, though plans are not finalized.
US plans Big Tech carve-out from next chip tariffs, FT reports
US Tariff Plans and Big Tech Exemptions
Feb 9 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's administration plans to spare firms such as Amazon, Google and Microsoft from upcoming tariffs on chips as they build AI data centers, the Financial Times reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the matter.
Details of the Exemption
The carve-outs would be provided by the Commerce Department and tied to investment commitments made by the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, the report added.
TSMC's Role in the Investment
Plans are in flux and had not been signed by Trump, the Financial Times cited an administration official as saying.
Current Status of Tariff Plans
TSMC, the world's largest contract chipmaker, is investing $165 billion to build factories in the U.S. state of Arizona.
(Reporting by Costas Pitas; Editing by Caitlin Webber and Chris Reese)
Key Takeaways
- •US plans to exempt Big Tech from upcoming chip tariffs.
- •Exemptions are linked to TSMC's investment in Arizona.
- •TSMC is investing $165 billion in US factories.
- •Plans are not yet signed by President Trump.
- •Commerce Department to provide carve-outs.
Frequently Asked Questions about US plans Big Tech carve-out from next chip tariffs, FT reports
1What is an exemption?
An exemption is a provision that frees a person or entity from a requirement or obligation, such as a tax or regulation.
2What is TSMC?
TSMC, or Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, is the world's largest contract chipmaker, known for manufacturing semiconductors.
