Trump Exempts Phones, Computers, Chips From ‘Reciprocal’ Tariffs

11 comments

1. President Donald Trump’s administration exempted smartphones, computers and other electronics from its so-called reciprocal tariffs, potentially cushioning consumers from sticker shock while benefiting electronics giants including [Apple Inc](https://archive.is/o/5cJsB/https://www.bloomberg.com/quote/AAPL:US). and [Samsung Electronics Co.](https://archive.is/o/5cJsB/https://www.bloomberg.com/quote/005930:KS)

   The exclusions, [published](https://archive.is/o/5cJsB/https://content.govdelivery.com/bulletins/gd/USDHSCBP-3db9e55?wgt_ref=USDHSCBP_WIDGET_2) late Friday by US Customs and Border Protection, narrow the scope of the levies by excluding the products from Trump’s 125% China tariff and his baseline 10% global tariff on nearly all other countries.

   The exclusions would apply to smartphones, laptop computers, hard drives and computer processors and memory chips. Those popular consumer electronics items generally aren’t made in the US. Setting up domestic manufacturing would take years.

   The products that won’t be subject to Trump’s new tariffs also include machines used to make semiconductors. That would be important for [Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.](https://archive.is/o/5cJsB/https://www.bloomberg.com/quote/2330:TT), which has announced a major new investment in the US as well as other chipmakers.The tariff reprieve may prove fleeting.

   The exclusions stem from the initial order, which prevented extra tariffs on certain sectors from stacking cumulatively on top of the country-wide rates. The exclusion is a sign that the products may soon be subject to a different tariff, albeit almost surely a lower one for China.

   One such exclusion was for semiconductors, to which Trump has regularly pledged to apply a specific tariff. He hasn’t yet done so but the latest exclusions appear to correspond with that exemption. Trump’s sectoral tariffs have so far been set at 25%, though it’s not clear what his rate on semiconductors and related products would be.

   The White House didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

2. Is it reciprocal if it is the answer to a reciprocal tarif to the original tarif you started?

3. No one will take the US seriously now. Barely two days from the doom inducing 145% tariffs and he caves on the most critical sector that needed re-shoring.

   The only industry he is helping are pharmaceuticals with the amount of anxiety pills being sold globally because of his flip flopping and asinine policies.

   P.S Americans, I think it’s time you take to the streets and pressure your legislative to remove this orange turd before he completely destroys your country without meaningful gain whatsoever.

4. Is he taking bribes for each of these ‘exemptions?’

5. And Trump chickened out. He couldn’t afford to let Americans paid more than 5 usd for eggs or else they revolt.
   Also no business person would invest in American factories due to this daily flip flopping.

6. he should impose 200% tariff on everything and then make an exception for everything – like a true statesman

7. So basically we are just bringing back sewing and coal mining jobs. Got it.

8. I feel like this is the opposite of what he should be doing. Exempt the main goods such as toys or shoes and keep tariffs on the chips, electronics, etc. Because those are the industries that actually need to be brought back to the US.

9. Is this not a tacit acknowledgement that tariffs hurt markets and it would cause increased costs for American consumers?

10. China is officially a superpower. Immediately matched the US tariff for tariff and the US blinked first without a concession or phone call. There is no other country or union in the world that dared to do the same (Canada to an extent). This has become America’s final warning/tariff; it will capitulate against a strong retaliation. 

11. Article is paywelled for me. Does this exemption apply for China as well or not. I just feel that in a trade war with china, where both parties will be suffering, the chinese population will prove to be significantly more resilient than the american. Chinese are used to suffering

Comments are closed.