Khaberni - The U.S. administration has warned that the prices of computer components, especially memory chips, might witness a noticeable increase in the near future if tariffs of up to 100% are imposed on imported chips.
The warning came from U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, during his participation in the groundbreaking ceremony for a new Micron plant near Syracuse, New York, where he emphasized that the new industrial policy aims to coerce companies into investing inside the United States or face hefty fees, according to Bloomberg.
A decisive decision faces chip companies
According to Lutnick, memory chip manufacturers wanting access to the U.S. market now have two options:
- Either bear high tariffs or expand their production within American territory.
He noted that a new trade agreement between the United States and Taiwan offers conditional customs exemptions based on quotas for companies that build new plants in America, explaining that the same approach could be applied to South Korean companies like "Samsung" and "SK Hynix".
Under this mechanism, companies that establish factories within the United States are permitted to import up to 2.5 times their current capacity without fees during the construction period, before the ratio decreases to 1.5 times after the facilities are completed.
Why might the user bear the cost?
Although the decision is ostensibly political, its effects could quickly reach consumers. Memory chips are a crucial element in SSD drives, RAM, ready-made and portable computer devices, and any increase in their cost is directly reflected in the final prices.
Even if prices are not raised directly, the effects may appear in other ways, such as:
- Reducing the basic storage capacities.
- Disappearance of offers and discounts.
- Offering lower specs for the same price.
Sensitive timing and a pressured market
These threats come at a time when the memory market is under significant pressure, especially with the increasing demand for high-bandwidth memory chips used in artificial intelligence data centers.
Companies like "Micron", "Samsung", and "SK Hynix" have already warned of supply limitations, which reduces their ability to absorb any additional shocks.
When to buy before prices rise?
So far, the U.S. administration has not set an official date for the implementation of the new tariffs. However, observers advise monitoring two key indicators:
- Any official announcement regarding the imposition of tariffs.
- Updates related to trade quota exemptions.
In case any of these paths are tightened, early purchasing to upgrade storage or memory might be a smart option to avoid the first wave of price increases.
