The U.S. "Made in China" policy has once again sent a strong signal to the global semiconductor industry. U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for Micron's new plant on January 16, 2026, stated bluntly that manufacturers not producing DRAM and other memory products in the U.S. could face import tariffs of up to 100% in the future. This statement is seen as the first explicit tariff warning from the U.S. to the memory industry, with the market interpreting its policy intention as forcing foreign companies to set up factories in the U.S. and strengthen the domestic supply chain.
Foreign media outlet Wccftech specifically named Samsung and SK Hynix as the first to be affected by Lutnik's tariff warning, and also mentioned Nanya Technology (2408) and Winbond Electronics (2344) in Taiwan. On the 21st, Taiwanese memory chip stocks collectively cooled down, with Nanya Technology (2408) closing down 7.72%; Winbond Electronics (2344) fell by approximately 6.64%, Macronix (2337) dropped 4.56%, and Phison also fell 4.99% after the end of its disposal period.
The tariff policy targets the memory chip industry, forcing manufacturers to choose between paying taxes or setting up factories.
In his address, Lutnick pointed out that memory manufacturers are facing a critical choice: either bear the high tariff costs or establish production capacity in the United States. It is widely believed that this move not only aligns with the long-standing US policy of bringing manufacturing back to the US, but also echoes the direction of subsequent US-Taiwan trade negotiations: if Taiwanese semiconductor companies commit to investing in the US, they may obtain exemptions through quota-based tariff reductions; otherwise, they will face policy pressure.
In the current industrial structure of the United States, Micron is almost the only major American manufacturer with domestic DRAM manufacturing capabilities. If other Asian suppliers do not adjust their layout, they may be directly exposed to policy risks.
Taiwan's memory chip market weakened sharply, with Nanya Technology falling 7.72%.
Following the news, Taiwanese memory chip stocks weakened significantly. Nanya Technology (2408) closed down 7.72% on the 21st; Winbond Electronics (2344) fell by approximately 6.64%, and Macronix Electronics (2337) also faced pressure, declining 4.56%. Phison also encountered significant selling pressure after the disposal period ended, falling 4.99%, and the overall sector cooled rapidly in the short term.
It's worth noting that Nanya Technology delivered impressive results at its earnings conference just days ago, reporting a near five-year high in unaudited profit for the fourth quarter of 2025, a gross margin increase to 49%, and an announcement of increased capital expenditures to NT$50 billion. The market generally believed that the memory chip industry was entering a reversal and upward trend. However, after the "100% tariff" issue surfaced, investor sentiment shifted sharply, sparking discussions about whether the impact on Taiwanese manufacturers was being overstated.
In response, Winbond Electronics has stated that revenue directly sold to the United States accounts for only about 3% to 5%, so the actual impact is limited. The company also emphasized that its product structure and market layout are different from what outsiders imagine.
Foreign media outlets have named Taiwanese manufacturers, warning of risks at Nanya Technology and Winbond Electronics.
Technology media outlet Wccftechreported that Lutnick's tariff warning primarily targets companies that do not manufacture DRAM in the United States, with Samsung and SK Hynix being the most directly affected. The report also extended its coverage to Taiwan's Nanya Technology and Winbond Electronics, highlighting their crucial roles in the DRAM supply chain and emphasizing the potential risks. The report even described the move as potentially having a devastating impact on the AI-driven industry structure that heavily relies on memory.
This article, titled "US Commerce Secretary Lutnick Threatens 100% Tariff on Memory Products if Suppliers Don't Set Up Factories in the US," first appeared on ABMedia, a ABMedia .
