Smartphones, laptops, and certain computer components will be exempt from the latest tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. The US Customs and Border Protection confirmed this exemption late Friday amid tariffs reaching 145% on imports from China. While this is beneficial for companies like Apple and Nvidia, new tariffs targeting semiconductors and smartphones are expected to be announced soon. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick indicated that these tariffs aim to encourage domestic production, potentially leading to significant price increases for consumers. However, Trump’s announcement hinted at possible flexibility for some tech companies, like Apple.
Smartphones, laptops, and computer components have been exempted from the latest tariffs by the Trump administration. The US Customs and Border Protection released updated guidelines on the reciprocal tariff exclusions for certain products late Friday. Devices such as smartphones, laptop computers, monitors, hard drives, memory chips, and chipsets will not be subject to the new tariffs, which have surged to 145% for imports from China.
This development is certainly favorable for major companies like Apple and Nvidia; however, the exemption might not last long. On Sunday, President Trump announced plans to impose new tariffs on semiconductors in the near future, which will encompass both semiconductor chips and smartphones.
The upcoming tariffs are expected to be revealed in “a week or two” and will be labeled as “a special focus type of tariff.” As stated by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, the intent behind these new levies is to encourage the return of smartphone and semiconductor manufacturing to the US—a significant endeavor that would require several years and potentially lead to substantial price hikes for consumers.
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