A viral social media post claims the U.S. government plans to levy a 15% tax on chip sales to China by major American firms, but the report remains unsubstantiated.
An unverified claim circulating on social media suggests the United States government will require semiconductor giants NVIDIA (NVDA) and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) to pay 15% of their revenue from chip sales to China directly to the government [1]. The allegation, which spread rapidly on August 10, 2025 [1], has not been confirmed by any official sources or reputable news organizations.
The rumor originated from a post on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) by an aggregator account that cited the Financial Times as its source [1]. The post read, “NVIDIA, AMD TO PAY 15% OF CHINA CHIP SALES TO US GOVT – FT” [1]. However, a review of the Financial Times’ publications and other major news outlets reveals no such report, casting significant doubt on the claim’s validity.
Facts, in 30 seconds
- A social media post claims the U.S. will require NVIDIA and AMD to pay it 15% of their China chip sales revenue [1].
- The claim was attributed to the Financial Times, but no corresponding report has been found to substantiate it [1].
- The information remains unverified by NVIDIA, AMD, the U.S. government, or other primary sources.
- If true, such a policy would represent a novel and significant escalation in the ongoing U.S.-China technology trade dispute.
Neither NVIDIA, AMD, nor any U.S. government agency has commented on the alleged policy. The claim comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions and an ongoing “chip war” between the U.S. and China, where Washington has implemented a series of stringent export controls to limit Beijing’s access to advanced semiconductor technology.
A policy requiring companies to remit a percentage of foreign sales to the government would be an unprecedented move, shifting from restricting trade to directly appropriating corporate revenue. For now, the report should be treated as a rumor until confirmed by a primary source.
Original Source: Link
