Biden Team to Probe Chinese Chips, Setting Up Trump for Tariffs

President Joe Biden’s administration is launching an investigation that will offer President-elect Donald Trump a choice about whether to enact new tariffs on Chinese-made semiconductor chips.

The White House announced Monday it would initiate the inquiry into so-called foundational chips — also known as legacy or mature-node semiconductors — made in China. While not as advanced as the chips driving artificial intelligence, the older technology is ubiquitous across a wide range of applications including autos, airplanes, medical devices and the telecommunications industry.

The move tees up potential tariffs on a sector that US officials say may pose a national ...