Overview
- The U.S. goods trade deficit reached a record $1.2 trillion in 2025 as AI-related hardware imports swelled, according to trade data.
- Imports of computers, accessories and semiconductors topped $450 billion last year, rising roughly 60% in the year after President Trump took office.
- Rapid data center construction is highly import intensive, with more than 35 gigawatts under way in North America, according to JLL and trade analysts.
- Electronics were exempted from tariffs last April, and the Supreme Court struck down the president’s reciprocal-tariff plan, limiting avenues to reduce these inflows.
- The push to relocate 40% of Taiwan’s advanced chip capacity to the U.S. within three years is widely seen as unrealistic as AI investment accelerates, with JPMorgan projecting over $700 billion in 2026.