US pushes new China chip tariffs to 2027, buying time for industry

The US has decided to delay new tariffs on Chinese semiconductors until 2027, easing immediate pressure on already stretched global chip supply chains. The move follows a year-long Section 301 investigation by the Office of the US Trade Representative, which concluded that parts of China’s state-backed semiconductor strategy distort global markets. Existing tariffs stay in place, but any new measures will be confirmed closer to their start date.

Officials in Washington present the delay as a tactical pause rather than a change in stance, giving the US more time to consult with industry and allies while keeping leverage in wider trade talks with Beijing. For data centre developers, cloud providers and network operators—especially in Europe and the UK—the decision offers short-term predictability at a time of strong demand from AI, cloud and data centre growth. However, they remain exposed to future disruption as trade flows, pricing and availability can shift once new tariffs eventually take effect. China has criticised the planned measures as harmful to global cooperation, while the US continues to signal that semiconductors will stay at the centre of its geopolitical and national security agenda.