Trump Exempts Tech Industry from Tariffs, Including on Chinese Imports

U.S. President Donald Trump has granted exemptions from tariffs on smartphones, computers, and other electronics, including those imported from China.

According to updated guidance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), released late Friday night, items such as smartphones, laptops, hard drives, computer processors, and memory chips are now exempt from the 10 percent global tariffs imposed by the Trump administration last week, as well as the additional 125 percent tariffs placed specifically on Chinese goods. However, a 20 percent duty—imposed in early March—still applies to electronics imported from China.

The exemptions also include machinery used by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) for semiconductor production. TSMC is currently building a plant in Arizona as part of a U.S. initiative to onshore microchip manufacturing and ensure supply security in the event of a conflict in the Taiwan Strait.

In the wake of the tariffs and the escalating economic conflict with China, panic swept through the market as consumers and importers rushed to purchase and stockpile goods before the tariffs took effect. This week, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, for example, warned that the era of low prices on everyday items could soon become “a thing of the past.”

While these exemptions bring relief to major tech companies and consumers who feared soaring prices, the move marks yet another retreat from Trump’s aggressive tariff policies. After doubling down on tariffs earlier in the week, Trump now appears to be walking back his broader trade war stance with China.

Supporters of Trump’s tariff strategy argue that such levies are key to reviving domestic manufacturing. However, lifting tariffs on the high-tech sector could remove incentives for these companies to relocate production to the United States.