Trump Exempts Phones & Computers From New Tariffs!

President Donald Trump has decided to exclude smartphones, computers, and other key tech components from the newly imposed 145% tariffs on Chinese imports, according to fresh guidance released by U.S. Customs and Border Protection late Friday.

The original tariff move, announced earlier this month, sent shockwaves through the tech industry, with major companies like Apple facing steep challenges. Apple, which relies heavily on Chinese manufacturing—producing over 80% of its products there—saw a sharp drop in its market value, losing more than $640 billion in just days after the announcement.

However, this latest update offers significant relief to the tech sector. Besides smartphones and computers, the exemption list also includes semiconductors, flash drives, memory cards, solar cells, flat-panel displays, and solid-state drives—components critical to the electronics industry. While these items could still face future duties, any additional tariffs are expected to be significantly lower than the initial 145%.

Tech analysts say the exemption marks a major shift. Dan Ives of Wedbush Securities described it as a “dream scenario for tech investors.” He emphasized that had the tariffs gone through without exception, the impact on big tech would have been devastating.

“This was the darkest cloud hanging over tech since the announcement,” Ives noted. “It’s clear that major tech executives made their voices heard, and the administration realized the economic consequences would have been severe.”

While the move eases immediate concerns for companies with deep ties to Chinese manufacturing, it also highlights the ongoing tension in U.S.-China trade relations and the balancing act the administration faces between tough trade policies and safeguarding American industry.