Chip Tariffs Are Rewiring the Global AI Race
Summary
Semiconductor tariffs are reshaping the AI economy. This drives up infrastructure costs, benefits large providers, and concentrates control of compute power. A new investment boom is emerging, creating new investment theses and new hybrid assets.
Rochelle Glazman
Rochelle is responsible for enabling go-to-market and growth strategies across sales, marketing, product, and client engagement. Before taking on this role, Rochelle was a Senior Pre-Sales Consultant, engaging with clients and prospects across the financial services industry. Prior to joining Arcesium, Rochelle spent over five years at BlackRock Aladdin servicing institutional asset managers and leading several implementation projects across North and South America. She graduated from Vanderbilt University with a degree in economics.
Sources:
[i] Center for Strategic and International Studies, “How Tariffs Could Derail the United States’ $3 Trillion AI Buildout,” August 7, 2025. https://www.csis.org/analysis/how-tariffs-could-derail-united-states-3-trillion-ai-buildout
[ii] S&P Global, “Tariff Trouble: Impact of Tariffs on Data Centers,” May 14, 2025. https://www.spglobal.com/market-intelligence/en/news-insights/research/tariff-trouble-impact-tariffs-data-centers
[iii] CNBC, “Tech megacaps plan to spend more than $300 billion in 2025 as AI race intensifies,” February 8, 2025. https://www.cnbc.com/2025/02/08/tech-megacaps-to-spend-more-than-300-billion-in-2025-to-win-in-ai.html
[iv] Apricitas Economics, “The Tariff Exemption Behind the AI Boom,” October 5, 2025. https://www.apricitas.io/p/the-tariff-exemption-behind-the-ai
[v] The Wall Street Journal, “Trump Takes Aim at Chip Makers With New Plan to Throttle Imports,” September 26, 2025. https://www.wsj.com/economy/trade/trump-chip-tariffs-exemptions-90fa2ab3
