Apple Spared from Chip Tariffs After $100B US Investment Pledge

Apple has secured an exemption from impending semiconductor tariffs after committing an additional $100 billion in U.S. investments, bringing its total pledge to $600 billion. The TRUMP administration's decision, framed as a reward for domestic manufacturing expansion, has buoyed investor sentiment but raised concerns about preferential treatment for tech giants with substantial lobbying power.

Industry analysts caution that smaller hardware vendors face existential threats from tariffs that could reach 100% unless they match Apple's U.S. production commitments. UBS Asia-Pacific tech research head Nicolas Gaudois notes exemption eligibility requires proof of significant investment from both device makers and their supply chains—a hurdle many suppliers cannot clear.

The semiconductor probe represents the most complex of the administration's Section 232 investigations, given chips' role as the backbone of global digital infrastructure. Market watchers anticipate rapid consolidation as selective exemptions reshape competitive dynamics, with one Japanese Apple supplier noting hundreds of component manufacturers lack the capital to relocate operations stateside.