Trump exempts laptops, smartphones, chips, including those made in China, from reciprocal tariffs
Washington, DC: The Trump administration has decided to exempt computers, laptops, smartphones, among other high-tech products, from its sweeping reciprocal tariffs, to shield American users from supply shortages and high costs, media reports said.
The move will spare the electronic items from the current 145 percent tariffs levied on China or the 10 percent baseline tariffs applicable on other nations, according to a notice from US Customs and Border Protection.
The US Customs and Border Protection office’s notice covers various electronic goods, including semiconductors, smartphones and components entering the United States.
Donald Trump has intensified his trade offensive against China, unveiling a steep 125% tariff on Chinese goods this week under his "reciprocal tariffs" push aimed at countering what Washington calls unfair trade practices.
This new duty came on top of a previous 20% tariff linked to China's alleged involvement in fentanyl trafficking, as well as existing levies from earlier administrations — pushing the total tariff burden on many products to at least 145%.
A number of exempted items, such as computer processors and hard drives, continue to be imported as they are not widely manufactured in the U.S.
Although Trump frames the tariff strategy as a way to revive American manufacturing, experts note that scaling up domestic production could take several years.
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