In a late-night move, the Trump administration announced that smartphones, laptops, and major electronic components will be exempt from the harsh new tariffs placed on foreign goods. The decision, issued by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, spares nearly two dozen tech-related items like chips, flash drives, and TV screens from the steep import duties that just went into effect.
The announcement comes on the heels of Beijing’s response to the White House’s latest round of tariffs. China countered by raising duties on all U.S. imports to 125%, escalating an already tense trade standoff.
The tariff break offers major relief for tech companies like Apple, which faced the possibility of hundreds of dollars in extra import taxes on every iPhone brought into the U.S. from China. With the exemption in place, Apple avoids either eating the costs or passing them on to customers through higher prices, at least for now.
