WATCH THE VIDEO HERE President Donald Trump’s administration has excluded smartphones, laptops, and other key electronic products from its sweeping reciprocal tariff measures in a move poised to benefit global electronics manufacturers and consumers alike. According to a Bloomberg report, the exemptions, quietly published by U.S. Customs and Border Protection late Friday, remove several high-demand tech products from Trump’s 125% China-specific tariff and the 10% global baseline levy. The exclusion list includes smartphones, laptop computers, hard drives, computer processors, and memory chips—items that are rarely manufactured in the United States and would require years of investment to localize production. By sparing these products, the administration effectively shields major electronics players such as Apple Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co. from immediate cost surges, while also mitigating potential price hikes for end consumers. Additionally, machines used in semiconductor manufacturing were exempted. This is a significant development for companies like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), which has announced large-scale investment plans in the U.S., as well as for the broader chipmaking sector. However, the report noted that the relief may be temporary as the exclusions are derived from an earlier executive order designed to prevent cumulative tariff burdens across sectors. In the wake of the tariff wars leading to the imposition of 125% duty on goods from China, industry analysts had warned that this could have dire consequences on the prices of several electronic devices being manufactured in China. Specifically, Global Head of Technology Research at Wedbush Securities, Dan Ives, had warned that tariffs could have a far-reaching impact on tech consumers and multinational companies like Apple, with iPhone prices expected to increase three times.
Trump exempts phones, computers from reciprocal tariffs, easing pressure on global consumers
