U.S. President Donald Trump emphasized on Sunday (April 13) that the exemption for smartphones and computers from his "reciprocal tariffs" on China will be temporary. He announced plans for a national security trade investigation focused on the semiconductor sector.
Those electronics "are just moving to a different Tariff 'bucket,'" Trump said in a social media post. "We are taking a look at Semiconductors and the WHOLE ELECTRONICS SUPPLY CHAIN in the upcoming National Security Tariff Investigations."
U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick announced that smartphones, computers, and certain other electronics recently exempted from high tariffs on imports from China will soon face new duties, along with semiconductors, within the next two months.
Lutnick made these remarks during an appearance on ABC's This Week, adding to the ongoing developments in President Donald Trump's tariff strategy, which has disrupted global trade and caused volatility in financial markets since its announcement on April 2, dubbed "Liberation Day" by Trump.
On Friday, the Trump administration granted exemptions from steep reciprocal tariffs on smartphones and other electronic products, providing significant relief to tech companies like Apple and Dell Technologies that depend on Chinese imports. However, Lutnick's comments on Sunday indicated that this relief may be temporary.
Trump's inconsistent approach to tariffs has increased uncertainty for investors and businesses, leading to significant fluctuations on Wall Street, the most extreme since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The Standard & Poor's 500 index has declined by over 10 percent since Trump took office on January 20.
Lutnick stated that Trump plans to introduce "a special focus-type of tariff" on smartphones, computers, and other electronics in the coming months, alongside sector-specific tariffs targeting semiconductors and pharmaceuticals. These new duties will be separate from the existing reciprocal tariffs, which have raised levies on Chinese imports to 125 percent.
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