EXEMPTED ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS TO COME UNDER SEPARATE TARIFFS – U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said in an interview
U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said in an interview that smartphones, computers and some other electronics will come under separate tariffs, along with semiconductors that may be imposed in a month or so.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration late on Friday (April 11) granted exclusions from steep tariffs on such products, imported largely from China, providing a big break to tech firms like Apple that rely on imported products.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency notice of tariff codes on Friday excluded from the import taxes featured 20 product categories, including the broad 8471 code for all computers, laptops, disc drives and automatic data processing. It also included semiconductor devices, equipment, memory chips and flat panel displays.
The notice gave no explanation for the move, but the exclusion provides welcome relief to major technology firms such as Apple, Dell Technologies and many other importers.
The action also excludes the specified electronics from Trump’s 10% “baseline” tariffs on goods from most countries other than China, easing import costs for semiconductors from Taiwan and Apple iPhones produced in India.
Asked on Saturday (April 12) about his reasoning for the exemptions and plans for semiconductors, Trump told reporters: “I’ll give you that answer on Monday. We’ll be very specific on Monday … we’re taking in a lot of money, as a country, we’re taking in a lot of money.”
