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Trump Exempts Electronics from Tariffs in Major Policy Shift

The move spares smartphones, laptops, and semiconductors from steep levies, offering relief to tech companies while escalating the broader US-China trade conflict.

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Apple iPhone 16 smartphones on display in an Apple store in the Jing'an district in Shanghai, China on April 10, 2025. President Trump has issued some tariff exemptions that include smartphones.
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Smartphones, laptops are among items exempted from Trump tariffs

Overview

  • The Trump administration announced late Friday that electronics, including smartphones, laptops, and semiconductors, are exempt from reciprocal tariffs, retroactive to April 5, 2025.
  • The exemptions aim to ease financial pressure on tech companies like Apple, which rely heavily on Chinese manufacturing for their products.
  • Despite the carveouts for electronics, tariffs on other Chinese imports remain at prohibitive rates of up to 145%, intensifying trade tensions with China.
  • Industry analysts view the exemptions as a significant win for the tech sector, potentially averting severe supply chain disruptions and stabilizing markets.
  • The decision has sparked criticism over inconsistencies in trade policy, with some questioning the administration’s broader economic strategy.