President Donald Trump was seen speaking to reporters using smartphones while on Air Force One on April 6, 2025. In a recent development following the announcement of “reciprocal” tariffs on April 2, the Trump Administration has decided to exempt certain electronics from these tariffs. A notification from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) released late on Friday night specified that devices such as smartphones, laptops, hard drives, flat-panel monitors, and machines used in semiconductor production would be excluded from the tariffs. The exemption covers products entering the U.S. or taken out of warehouses starting from April 5.
This exemption means that these electronics can now avoid the steep “reciprocal” tariffs imposed on goods from China, where Apple has been producing most of its iPhones for nearly two decades. Despite the exemption, Trump’s Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy, Stephen Miller, highlighted that these electronics are still subject to the original 20% tariff on Chinese imports under the IEEPA.
The tariffs could have had a significant impact on the electronics market and on tech giants like Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Samsung, as many of their supply chains are reliant on China and other countries outside the U.S. Prior to the exemption, experts estimated that the cost of an iPhone for U.S. consumers could have increased substantially.
Trump has been advocating for tech companies to relocate their operations to the U.S., citing Apple’s plan to invest $500 billion in the country over the next four years. However, as noted by the Washington Post, Apple’s operations are complex, involving design in California, assembly in China and India, and parts sourced globally.
The announcement of exemptions follows Trump’s hinting at the possibility while speaking to reporters on Air Force One. Trump mentioned that there could be a few exceptions for specific reasons, setting a minimum tariff rate of 10%. The details of these exceptions were not disclosed by Trump.
Concerns have been raised by experts about the potential impact of Trump’s tariffs on consumers, with expectations of price increases. China was the second-largest source of U.S. imports in 2024, supplying items such as broadcasting equipment and computers.
The exemption of certain electronics is the latest adjustment in Trump’s tariff strategy. After the announcement of the “reciprocal” tariffs on April 2, global stocks plummeted, raising fears of a recession. However, on April 9, Trump announced a 90-day pause for most of the tariffs, excluding China, which faced higher import taxes. The tariffs on China now stand at 145%, comprising a 125% “reciprocal” tariff and a 20% tariff on most goods as a punitive measure.
China retaliated against the U.S. by increasing tariffs on American products to 125% in response to the flow of fentanyl into the United States. For further information, please reach out to us at letters@time.com.
