U.S. gov’t mulls tariffing devices based on the number of chips used and their estimated value — policy would impact nearly every type of electronic device

The U.S. government is evaluating a plan to tax imported electronics based on the number of chips they contain and their estimated value within the device, according to Reuters. This plan, which is still under internal review, could impact everything from basic gadgets like the Apple Watch to high-end servers, marking a shift toward chip-specific trade penalties. However, there are obvious difficulties associated with implementing such tariffs.

The proposed system would calculate tariffs as a percentage…