The Trump administration’s recent decision to exempt iPhones, laptops, and other electronic devices was only a temporary reprieve, as those products will face separate levies—adding confusion over how the US is implementing its tariff plans.
“NOBODY is getting ‘off the hook’ for the unfair Trade Balances, and Non Monetary Tariff Barriers, that other Countries have used against us, especially not China which, by far, treats us the worst!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“There was no Tariff ‘exception’ announced on Friday. These products are subject to the existing 20% Fentanyl Tariffs, and they are just moving to a different Tariff ‘bucket.’ The Fake News knows this, but refuses to report it,” he continued.
The White House had announced on late Friday the exclusion of some electronic products such as smartphones and laptops from Trump’s steep new tariffs, including the 125 per cent additional levy on Chinese-produced goods
However, Trump’s commerce secretary, Howard Lutnick, said on Sunday said that the high-tech products from China would face separate new duties along with semiconductors within the next two months.
“So this is not like a permanent sort of exemption. [Trump’s] just clarifying that these are not available to be negotiated away by countries,” he told ABC News anchor Jonathan Karl on This Week.
Lutnick added: “These are things that are national security that we need to be made in America.”
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Trump’s social media post and Lutnick’s comments added further uncertainty about whether popular tech products—such as iPhones, tablets, laptop computers, and flat-panel TVs—would be spared from Trump’s proposed 145 per cent reciprocal tariffs. This means that duties on imported products could raise prices and ultimately be passed on to consumers by the companies. Experts warn that Trump’s tariff policies are adding chaos and confusion, creating a crisis moment for tech companies like Apple and Dell, which manufacture most of their products in China.
The confusion over Trump’s tariffs and the subsequent reversal has sent a shockwave through the global trading system and financial markets. However, the Trump administration maintains that the tariffs will help strengthen the US economy by bringing manufacturing back to the country and creating jobs.
The mass confusion created by this constant news flow out of the White House is dizzying for the industry and investors and creating massive uncertainty and chaos for companies trying to plan their supply chain, inventory, and demand,” Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives wrote on Sunday.
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