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Smartphones and laptops spared in Trump’s tariff plan, offering temporary relief to tech sector
Babushahi Bureau
New Delhi, April 13, 2025: To prevent price hikes for consumers, the Trump administration has opted to exclude smartphones, computers, and other vital electronics from its proposed reciprocal tariff plan — a move expected to significantly benefit major tech firms such as Apple and Samsung.
The decision also appears designed to ease growing concerns among businesses and voters about inflation and ongoing supply chain disruptions.
According to Bloomberg, the list of exemptions, released late Friday by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, limits the reach of Trump’s tariff policy by removing these products from the proposed 125% levy on Chinese imports and the broader 10% global tariff affecting nearly all other countries.
The exclusions apply to a wide range of high-demand consumer electronics — including smartphones, laptops, processors, memory chips, and storage devices — most of which are currently produced outside the United States. Industry experts note that building domestic manufacturing capacity for these products would take years.
Also excluded are machines used in semiconductor manufacturing — a notable win for companies like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. and other chipmakers investing heavily in U.S.-based production.
However, the relief may be temporary. These exemptions are part of an initial measure designed to prevent overlapping tariffs from piling on top of existing duties.
While the move offers short-term stability, it signals that new, potentially lower China-specific tariffs on these products could be introduced in the near future.