Trump Exempts Smartphones and Laptops from Tariffs in Sudden Tech Reprieve.
In a dramatic shift in trade policy, the Trump administration has announced that smartphones, computers, and several other electronic devices will be exempt from the sweeping new tariffs—some as high as 125%—recently imposed on Chinese imports.
In a formal notice, U.S. Customs and Border Protection confirmed that these goods will not be subject to either President Trump’s global 10% tariff or the significantly steeper levies aimed at China. The decision marks the first major retreat in Trump’s ongoing trade war with China, signaling a potential turning point. One trade analyst described the move as a “game-changer scenario.”
Traveling to Miami over the weekend, Trump told reporters he would release more details at the start of the week. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reinforced Trump’s protectionist narrative in a statement:
“President Trump has made it clear America cannot rely on China to manufacture critical technologies such as semiconductors, chips, smartphones, and laptops,” she said.
“At the direction of the president, these companies are hustling to onshore their manufacturing in the United States as soon as possible.”
Despite the exemption, smartphones and other devices are still subject to a separate 20% tariff linked to China’s alleged ties to fentanyl trafficking, according to White House Deputy Chief of Staff on Policy Stephen Miller.
Estimates suggest that, without these exemptions, the price of iPhones in the U.S. could have tripled. Apple, which sells over half the smartphones in the U.S., relies heavily on Chinese production—about 80% of the iPhones destined for U.S. consumers are assembled in China, with the rest coming from India.
Like rival Samsung, Apple has been actively diversifying its supply chain in recent years, seeking to reduce its reliance on China. India and Vietnam have emerged as leading alternatives for manufacturing. Following the tariff announcement, Apple reportedly ramped up production in India to cushion potential disruptions.
The tech industry, already on edge over the tariffs, welcomed the move.
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“This is the dream scenario for tech investors,” said Dan Ives, Global Head of Technology Research at Wedbush Securities.
“Smartphones, chips being excluded is a game-changer scenario when it comes to China tariffs.”
Other exempted products include semiconductors, solar cells, and memory cards, with exclusions retroactively applied from April 5. The White House framed the exemptions as a temporary measure to give companies more time to shift production to the U.S.
The decision follows a week of tariff turbulence. Trump had planned to implement steep new levies on a range of imports this week. On Wednesday, however, he announced a 90-day pause on increased tariffs for most countries—except China, whose tariffs he raised to 145%. Trump justified the hike by citing China’s readiness to impose its own retaliatory tariffs, reportedly up to 84% on U.S. goods.
In a reversal, Trump also said countries that had not retaliated against U.S. tariffs would now face only a blanket 10% tariff until July. The White House admitted the move was a strategic gamble designed to pressure trade partners into making concessions.
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“We’ll be very specific,” Trump said aboard Air Force One. “But we’re taking in a lot of money. As a country we’re taking in a lot of money.”
The real motivation, however, appears to be political and reactive. Facing mounting pressure from tech companies and investors worried about skyrocketing costs, the administration abruptly reversed course. Industry leaders had warned that passing the full tariff burden onto consumers would severely impact sales and innovation, especially with so many devices manufactured in China.
Conclusion - A Complete Mess
Despite the flashy rhetoric and sudden exemptions, Trump’s latest tariff maneuver reeks more of panic than strategy. After weeks of chest-thumping about economic sovereignty and punishing China, his administration has hastily pulled back once major corporations raised alarms. Rather than presenting a coherent policy, Trump appears to be moving the goalposts mid-game—scrambling to avoid a tech sector backlash and spiraling consumer prices. These exemptions aren't a win for diplomacy or trade; they’re damage control. Far from a calculated economic plan, this is yet another chaotic U-turn that suggests the president is improvising, not leading.
