The biggest technology shift from the Trump administration in September 2026 is a proposed new, broader round of tariffs on imported semiconductors, paired with tariff relief for companies that build chips in the United States. On September 2, 2026, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the administration will pursue this fresh round, according to Bloomberg, increasing pressure on Samsung and SK hynix to expand US production.
This is one of several tech-policy moves in play right now, most of them still unfinished. Tariffs, an H-1B visa fee, federal equity stakes in chipmakers, AI policy, and the TikTok deal are all moving at once—and several face lawsuits or comment periods. Here is what changed, who it affects, and what to watch.
Table of Contents
- The chip tariff plan is a proposal, not a final rule
- The government is buying stakes in chipmakers
- The H-1B visa fee that keeps changing
- TikTok, AI, and Nvidia—where the fights continue
- What to watch next, and what you can do
- Frequently Asked Questions
The chip tariff plan is a proposal, not a final rule
A tariff is a tax on imported goods, paid at the border and usually passed on to buyers. The September announcement signals intent to widen chip tariffs and reward domestic manufacturing, but nothing is locked in yet. It builds on a 25% duty Washington imposed in january 2026 on a narrow set of advanced chips.
The second, broader phase could reach laptops, servers, and gaming hardware, but CNBC reports it has not been finalized. That means the September move is a direction, not a delivered policy. For readers, the practical takeaway is simple: prices on chip-heavy electronics could rise if the broader tariffs take effect, but the timing and exact product list remain open. Watch for a final rule and a published product schedule before assuming any specific price change.
The government is buying stakes in chipmakers
Separately, the federal government has been taking equity—ownership shares—in private technology firms. The corporate-equity portfolio has grown to roughly 30 companies and about $26.7 billion, according to Yahoo Finance/AOL. The headline holding is a 9.9%–10% non-voting stake in Intel, 433.3 million shares bought at $20.47 in august 2025.
Six more chipmakers were added through CHIPS Act–linked deals. The mechanism showed up in July 2026, when Commerce and NIST announced letters of intent with seven companies for $874 million, structured as minority, non-controlling stakes. "Non-voting" and "non-controlling" matter here: the government holds financial exposure but does not run these companies. For accountability, the open questions are how these stakes are valued, how they are unwound, and who profits if share prices rise.
The H-1B visa fee that keeps changing
The H-1B is a visa that lets US employers hire skilled foreign workers, heavily used by tech firms. The fee attached to it is now in legal limbo. On August 24, 2026, DHS proposed a permanent $103,265 fee on H-1B petitions to replace an earlier $100,000 fee, CNN reported.
That earlier fee was struck down in June 2026 by federal judge Leo Sorokin as beyond presidential authority, per NPR. The new rule is not final. It faces a public comment period and likely litigation, so the amount employers actually pay could change again. If you work at or run a company that sponsors H-1B workers, treat the figure as unsettled and track the final rule.
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TikTok, AI, and Nvidia—where the fights continue
Three other threads are worth watching. First, the TikTok divestiture: announced September 2025 and finalized January 22, 2026, it moved US operations into TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC, controlled by a US investor group including Oracle, Silver Lake, and Andreessen Horowitz. A lawsuit alleges the deal benefited firms tied to Trump, NBC News reported, and governance and data-security details remain disputed. Second, AI policy.
On June 2, 2026, Trump issued an executive order titled "Promoting Advanced Artificial Intelligence Innovation and Security," shifting AI policy toward a national-security frame. It follows a December 2025 order directing federal review of state AI laws—a signal that Washington wants to limit a patchwork of state rules. Third, chip exports to China. In January 2026, Commerce codified rules letting Nvidia export roughly 18-month-old H200 chips to China under a 50% volume cap, then added a 25% tariff or revenue cut on those shipments, while barring newer Blackwell and Rubin chips, The Conversation reported. The through-line is a running tension between security controls and trade revenue.
What to watch next, and what you can do
Most of these items are unfinished, which is the single most useful thing to know. A proposal, a comment period, or a pending lawsuit can change the outcome, so treat headline numbers as provisional. Concrete things to track: If a decision depends on one of these—a hiring plan, a large electronics purchase, an investment—wait for the final rule rather than the announcement, and confirm the detail against the primary source named above.
- The final semiconductor tariff rule and its exact product list—that determines any real price impact on electronics.
- The DHS H-1B rule after its comment period, plus any court ruling that pauses or blocks it.
- Court filings in the TikTok deal lawsuit, which could reshape ownership or data terms.
- Disclosures on the federal equity stakes: valuations, sale terms, and who benefits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the new chip tariffs in effect now?
No. The September 2, 2026 announcement is a proposal to broaden tariffs; the broader phase has not been finalized, per CNBC.
How much is the current H-1B visa fee?
It is unsettled. DHS proposed a permanent $103,265 fee in August 2026 after a judge struck down the earlier $100,000 fee; the new rule is not final.
Does the government control the chipmakers it invested in?
No. The stakes, including its Intel holding, are described as non-voting and non-controlling—financial exposure without operational control.
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