Trump’s Taiwan Tariff Plan: A Blow to Gaming?

President Donald Trump recently announced plans to introduce tariffs on electronics assembled in China and chips produced in Taiwan. These tariffs could reach up to 100%, which might significantly raise the prices of devices from companies like NVIDIA, AMD, and Apple. One of the main targets is TSMC, a key Taiwanese semiconductor manufacturer.

Although TSMC has a production facility in Arizona, most of its chip manufacturing happens in Taiwan. These chips are then sent to other parts of Asia for assembly before being sold in the U.S. This setup makes them vulnerable to the proposed tariffs.

Looking back, a chip shortage in 2021 caused major supply issues for products like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. Both consoles relied on custom AMD chips, which were in high demand. AMD processors are also critical for desktop PCs that run modern games, so disruptions in the supply chain could ripple across the gaming and tech industries.

If the tariffs take effect, they could increase costs for consumers while complicating the production process. It’s a change worth keeping an eye on, especially for those planning to buy new tech in the future.