Trump exempts phones, computers, chips from ‘Reciprocal’ tariffs

The Trump administration has carved out a major exemption for consumer and computing hardware from its new “reciprocal” tariff regime, easing immediate pressure on global technology supply chains. A bulletin issued by U.S. Customs and Border Protection late on a Friday in April clarified that smartphones, computers, and a wide range of other electronics will not be subject to President Donald Trump’s steep reciprocal tariffs, which had been set as high as 125–145% on many imports, particularly from China. The exclusions are retroactive and are structured via specific Harmonized Tariff Schedule codes, covering laptops and desktops, parts and accessories, semiconductor devices, memory chips, flat-panel displays, solid-state drives, routers and switches, and even machines used to manufacture semiconductors. This move delivers immediate relief to major technology firms such as Apple and Nvidia, which rely heavily on China-based manufacturing and were facing the prospect of sharp price increases on flagship products like the iPhone and advanced AI chips. Analysts had warned that full application of the reciprocal tariffs could have raised consumer prices dramatically and amplified market volatility at a time when Trump’s broader tariff strategy had already rattled financial markets and trading partners. However, the reprieve may be temporary: the administration has signaled that while these electronics are spared the reciprocal and baseline tariffs, they remain subject to an existing 20% China-specific tariff tied to the fentanyl dispute and could later face sector-specific “reshoring” tariffs on chips and related technologies under national security authorities. The exemptions therefore reduce short-term inflation and supply chain risk for consumer tech, but leave longer-term trade and industrial policy for semiconductors and electronics unresolved.

✨ AI-generated background, compiled from web sources — not editorial content.

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