President Donald Trump is exempting smartphones, some computers and more electronics from his global reciprocal tariffs after a tumultuous week in the markets due to the president’s global trade war.
A guidance published by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection late Friday exempted these consumer electronics — many of which are manufactured in China — from Trump’s back-and-forth tariff escalation with China and the 10 percent global tariff. The machines used to make semiconductors will also be exempt.
The White House and CPB did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Trump has, however, signaled that he is considering sectoral tariffs for some goods.
The move could be a win for tech companies like Apple that were facing potential price hikes amid manufacturing costs that would skyrocket under Trump’s tariff plans. The exclusions come as Silicon Valley’s tech giants have cozied up to Trump, looking to make inroads with his administration.
