Overview

• The Trump administration has excluded smartphones, laptops, semiconductors, and related equipment from the 145% tariff on Chinese imports, according to updated U.S. Customs and Border Protection guidance issued late Friday.
• This exemption offers relief to major tech companies like Apple, Dell, and HP, which rely heavily on Chinese manufacturing for their products.
• Despite these exclusions, U.S. chipmakers producing domestically, such as Intel and Texas Instruments, face tariffs of 84% or higher on their goods imported into China.
• Major laptop manufacturers, including Dell, HP, and Lenovo, have paused shipments to the U.S. due to the evolving trade policies and market uncertainty.
• China has retaliated against the U.S. tariff hikes by increasing its own tariffs on American goods to 125%, further escalating tensions in the ongoing trade conflict.