On February 10th, the Financial Times reported that President Trump is poised to shield tech behemoths like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft from the repercussions of chip tariffs. These firms are in a fierce competition to construct data centers, which are crucial for propelling the advancement of artificial intelligence.

Individuals with insider knowledge revealed that the U.S. Department of Commerce is set to grant tariff exemptions to U.S. hyperscale data center operators, a decision that is intricately tied to TSMC's investment pledges. This strategic maneuver not only underscores Trump's unwavering commitment to imposing taxes on chips and fostering domestic chip production within the U.S. but also extends a helping hand to companies that heavily depend on imported semiconductors to fuel the growth of artificial intelligence in the country.

Nonetheless, certain government officials cautioned that the specifics of these plans remain fluid and are yet to receive the president's official endorsement.