Trump warns exemptions on smartphones, electronics will be short-lived, promises future tariffs
U.S. President Donald Trump has vowed that no industry will be spared in his escalating trade measures against China, announcing plans to launch a national security investigation into the semiconductor industry and the broader electronics supply chain.
Despite a temporary exemption from tariffs for smartphones, laptops, and other electronic devices, top U.S. officials have made it clear that the relief is only short-term. “There was no tariff ‘exception,’” Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform on Sunday. “These products are subject to the existing 20% fentanyl tariffs—they’re just moving to a different tariff ‘bucket.’”
On Friday, the White House had announced a 90-day reprieve from steep tariffs for select consumer electronics, a move that was expected to boost U.S. stock markets. Shares in tech giants like Apple and Nvidia were poised to climb following the temporary lifting of import duties on their China-manufactured products.
In response, China’s commerce ministry welcomed the short-term measure as “a small step toward correcting [the U.S.’s] erroneous unilateral practice of ‘reciprocal tariffs’,” while urging Washington to scrap the tariff regime altogether.
Zhang Li, president of the China Center for Information Industry Development, told China Daily that the exemptions highlighted “how important China is to major U.S. tech companies that rely heavily on the country for manufacturing and innovation.”
However, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick indicated that the relief won’t last long. Speaking on Sunday, Lutnick confirmed that new duties targeting critical technology imports from China—including semiconductors—are set to be introduced within the next two months.
As trade tensions continue to rise, China is turning its attention to strengthening regional ties. President Xi Jinping is scheduled to arrive in Vietnam on Monday, beginning a Southeast Asia tour aimed at bolstering economic alliances in the face of increasing U.S. pressure.
