STORY: Shares in Samsung fell to their lowest level in more than four years on Wednesday (November 13).

Analysts said they're worried about the impact of U.S. tariffs under a new Donald Trump administration.

The South Korean tech giant is the worst performing stock among global chipmakers this year.

It has fallen behind rivals in exploiting booming demand for artificial intelligence chips.

Trump's potential tariffs on Chinese imports are seen dealing a bigger blow to Samsung.

One leading analyst said the firm has a higher reliance on Chinese customers than SK Hynix, a local rival.

Hynix has raised sales of high-end AI server chips to U.S. customers like Nvidia.

Trump has threatened to impose a universal 10% tariff on imports and 60% on Chinese goods.

Another analyst said this would lower demand for electronics products that use chips.

Last week, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol also raised concerns about Trump's tariffs.

He said the threat of steep tariffs on China's imports could lead Chinese rivals to slash export prices and undercut Korean chip firms overseas.

Samsung shares were down over 2% Wednesday, and are down 34% year-to-date.

The stock is also on course to post its worst annual performance in more than two decades.

Shares in SK Hynix have risen close to a third so far this year, and U.S. chipmaker Nvidia has gained 199%.