The Trump administration’s recent decision to exempt iPhones, laptops, and other electronic devices was only a temporary respite. Adding more confusion over how the US is implementing its tariff plans, US President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social that these products will face separate levies. He stated that “NOBODY is getting ‘off the hook’ for the unfair Trade Balances, and Non-Monetary Tariff Barriers, that other Countries have used against the US, especially not China.
“There was no Tariff ‘exception’ announced on Friday. These products are subject to the existing 20% Fentanyl Tariffs, and they are just moving to a different Tariff ‘bucket.’ The Fake News knows this, but refuses to report it,” he wrote.
On late Friday, the White House had announced the exclusion of some electronic products such as smartphones and laptops from Trump’s steep new tariffs, including the 125 per cent additional levy on Chinese-produced goods.
Trump vs China trade
Trump’s commerce secretary, Howard Lutnick, further clarified on Sunday that the high-tech products from China would face separate new duties along with semiconductors within the next two months.
“So this is not like a permanent sort of exemption. [Trump’s] just clarifying that these are not available to be negotiated away by countries,” he told a news channel.
Lutnick added, “These are things that are national security that need to be made in America.”
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