Washington: The Trump administration has announced a significant exemption for smartphones, computers, and certain other electronic devices from its global tariff plan, which includes a steep 125% tariff on Chinese imports.
According to a notice issued by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, these items will be excluded from President Trump’s 10% global tariff and the much higher import taxes targeting Chinese goods.
This move marks the first major tariff relief extended by President Trump to China. One trade analyst has described the development as a "game changer."
During a visit to Miami on Saturday, President Trump hinted at more detailed announcements regarding the exemptions in the coming week. Speaking to reporters, he said, “We are being very clear with our actions, and these steps are generating substantial revenue for our country.”
The decision follows growing concerns from U.S. tech companies, who warned that gadget prices could skyrocket due to their heavy reliance on Chinese manufacturing.
The White House indicated that the exemption is intended to give companies additional time to shift their production facilities to the United States.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated, “President Trump has made it clear that the United States cannot rely on China for critical technologies like semiconductors, chips, smartphones, and laptops.”
In response to the President’s directive, several companies are now making efforts to move their manufacturing operations to the U.S. as quickly as possible.
According to Counterpoint Research, the U.S. remains a major market for iPhones, with Apple accounting for more than half of smartphone sales last year. The report also noted that 80% of iPhones are manufactured in China, while the remaining 20% are produced in India.
