The Trump administration excludes smartphones, laptops, hard drives, processors, memory chips, and machines used to make semiconductors from reciprocal tariffs

President Donald Trump's administration exempted smartphones, computers and other electronics from its so-called reciprocal tariffs …

Bloomberg 2025-04-12

Context & Ripple Effects

The exemption carves a major electronics and chip-equipment category out of the administration’s reciprocal-tariff program. Related coverage shows the carve-out became central to a broader tension between tariff policy and the need to keep technology supply chains functioning: later analysis described more than $100 billion in smartphone and laptop imports as excluded since April 2.

The relief was not presented as a settled endpoint. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick indicated that consumer-electronics exclusions could be revisited through semiconductor tariffs, while subsequent reporting tied potential chip-tariff exemptions to domestic-investment commitments.

First-order effects

Importers of the named consumer electronics, components and semiconductor-manufacturing equipment avoid the reciprocal tariffs for now, reducing the immediate tariff exposure on those products.
The exemption also shields the equipment used to make semiconductors, separating production inputs from the reciprocal-tariff treatment alongside finished electronics.

Second-order effects

Technology companies and their suppliers gain room to preserve existing sourcing and pricing plans, but the stated prospect of later chip tariffs leaves those plans contingent rather than permanent.
The carve-out creates an incentive for companies to distinguish products and production inputs that qualify for relief, especially as a later proposed chip tariff paired broad rates with firm-specific exemptions.

Third-order effects

If exemptions increasingly hinge on domestic manufacturing commitments, tariffs may operate less as a uniform import levy and more as a tool for steering investment by large technology and semiconductor firms.
The episode points to a managed-trade model for strategic hardware: policymakers may protect access to critical electronics in the near term while using targeted tariff exposure to reshape where capacity is built.

The trend: Strategic technology tariffs are becoming more selective, balancing supply-chain continuity against pressure for domestic semiconductor investment.

Discussion

@stephentotilo Stephen Totilo on bluesky
Though I enjoy Blue Prince, I don't enjoy looking up tariff exception product codes. Not quite as fun — content.govdelivery.com/bulletins/ gd...
@sandertordoir Sander Tordoir on bluesky
First fold wasn't enough, and left US tariffs still at extremely high level. The bond market didn't like it, now further rollbacks are en route. — This'll be a messy ride. — www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
@bgrueskin Bill Grueskin on bluesky
The ROI on Tim Cook's $1 million donation to the Trump inauguration is astronomical www.cnbc.com/2025/04/12/t...
@iamfreetobeme Dianne Dupuis on bluesky
He's protecting technology and his tech brothers.
@michaelcaley Michael Caley on bluesky
they simply don't understand what the costs of tariffs will be — you can hide the headline costs of iPhones and laptops but the effects on all prices, not to mention production itself, via supply chains can't be handled by one time exemptions and bribery www.bloomberg.com/news/ar…
@nosunkcosts @nosunkcosts on bluesky
All the downsides of tariff uncertainty, none of the revenue [embedded post]
@jaec @jaec on bluesky
1. Tariffs for everything. — 2. Some exemptions. — 3. Profit (corruption). [embedded post]
@whetmoser.com Whet Moser on bluesky
guess we're not building iPhones anymore www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
@danielzhao Daniel Zhao on bluesky
just spinning a big raffle wheel to decide what the new tariff policy announced each day will be
@monhegan @monhegan on bluesky
Trump rolls out massive tariffs, freaks out markets, then starts carving out exceptions for chips, phones, laptops—like it was always part of the plan. He's flailing, but pretending it's strategy. Big, bold chaos followed by quiet backpedaling. Every move is damage control dre…
@scottlincicome Scott Lincicome on bluesky
Tim Apple wins again: “Trump Exempts Phones, Computers, Chips From ‘Reciprocal’ Tariffs” www.bloomberg.com/news/article... [image]
@chadpbown.com Chad P. Bown on bluesky
Here is Trump Executive Order PAUSING tariffs on trade surplus countries & RAISING trade surplus tariffs on China to 125% (from 84%) — Note: — US-China tariff chart to be updated soon — Yesterday's crazy high tariffs on rest of world were only suspended on Apr 10 - ie, were i…
@christianh Christian Heinzel on bluesky
The funniest part is that this is the April 8th EO and the April 9th EO only publicised today actually increased all of these by a 3rd again, so 200 USD or 120% — www.whitehouse.gov/presidential... [embedded post]
@lookitup.baby Ian Coldwater on bluesky
It keeps getting worse. As of the newest EO they increased this rate AGAIN so as of June 1, you as an individual in the US receiving a package from China will be paying fees of $200 per package or 120% of its value. — So that $3 component you ordered? It's a $203 component no…
@christianh Christian Heinzel on bluesky
I missed it in the earlier CBP guidance, but the 125% are on top of the original feb/March 20% — Also more de minimis coming over 2 months — www.whitehouse.gov/presidential... [image]
@carnage4life Dare Obasanjo on threads
It didn't even last a week and the tariffs against China are beginning to crumble with smartphones, PCs, servers, and other tech products being exempted. Sucks for the small business owners who aren't big enough to lobby for their own exemptions. Welcome to the coin operated pr…
@birdyword Mike Bird on x
If you were running a secret strategy to undermine American manufacturing, exempting popular finished consumer goods from tariffs and keeping them in place for intermediate goods, capital goods and raw materials would be a good way to go about it.
@lewis_goodall Lewis Goodall on x
The great climbdown continues. [image]
@justinwolfers Justin Wolfers on x
Here we go. High tariffs for everyone except those who curry favor with the king. Lesson: It's more important to compete at Mar-a-Lago than in the market.
@robertgkepes Robert Kepes on x
@selinawangtv Trump had to back down b/c Apple, Samsung, Dell were not going to move manufacturing to the US from the Far East. Phone and computer prices would have gone up by 30% - 50% = a consumer revolt. Trump is making it up as he goes along = business uncertainty = no capita…
@selinawangtv Selina Wang on x
Breaking: The Trump administration is exempting smartphones, computers, and other electronics from his reciprocal tariffs. The exemptions also include solar cells, flat panel TV displays, flash drives, computer processors, memory chips, etc. https://content.govdelivery.com/ ...
@ernietedeschi Ernie Tedeschi on x
Reupping this paper for no reason at all. Tariff exemptions, and rejection of exemptions, are correlated with firm-level political connections. https://papers.ssrn.com/... [image]
@geiger_capital @geiger_capital on x
*TRUMP ADMINISTRATION EXEMPTED SMARTPHONES, COMPUTERS AND OTHER ELECTRONICS FROM RECIPROCAL TARIFFS So... Apple won't be onshoring? Trump continues caving left and right. [image]
@idothethinking Darrell Owens on x
Trump's just schizophrenically negotiating with himself while Xi and the Chinese just ignore him.
@johncoogan John Coogan on x
Tim Cooked
@hasanthehun @hasanthehun on x
excellent move, china will be destroyed any day now !
@armanddoma Armand Domalewski on x
So to be clear, the current Trump administration plan is now to let China do advanced electronics manufacturing while we “reshore”...textiles and coffee production? [image]
@josephpolitano @josephpolitano on x
Trump exempting computers & phones from the tariffs today means that Chinese-made laptops now have lower tariffs than European Cars, Mexican Steel, & Canadian Lumber Also means Vietnamese-made laptops have a lower tariff than Ethiopian coffee, Indian tea, & Guatemalan bananas
@josephpolitano @josephpolitano on x
Import Chinese battery: 145% tariff Import Chinese battery inside Chinese laptop: 20% tariff Import Chinese battery inside Vietnamese laptop: 0% tariff Fuckin brilliant. A+ work here team. I am so glad there are such smart people working on our trade policy.
@teroterotero Tero Kuittinen on x
He is giving Communist China sweetheart deals over Canada and Europe...
@pt Parker on x
I guess we don't want those jobs in America.
@zhao_dashuai Zhao DaShuai on x
Trump folded behind closed doors. The exception includes phones, computers and other selected electronic products mostly from China. This is Trump bending over for big tech, now he has to end all tariffs and do what's right for small and medium businesses in the US. [image]
@joannastern Joanna Stern on x
That made-in-America iPhone definitely happening now [image]
@danprimack Dan Primack on x
Trump blinks again https://www.bloomberg.com/... via @technology
@jonathanchait Jonathan Chait on x
The real goal of Trump's tariff system is to consolidate power through the granting of exceptions [image]
@dimi Demetri on x
Paging all trade geeks. Here's the list of codes for products that Trump is exempting from reciprocal tariffs. https://content.govdelivery.com/ ...
@teroterotero Tero Kuittinen on x
Aaand somebody likely was doing inside trading on this surrender to Xi last night. LOL... LMFAO, even.
@alessiotmad Alessio on x
Crazy amount of order blocks in $AAPL after hours 👀11B$ Stock screener almost ready now time to drain liquidity. [image]
@yeselson Richard Yeselson on x
Trump's tariff originalism is similar to the famous, conservative legal version: if he actually rigorously adheres to it, he would destroy his own political project. But if he finds “exceptions” to prevent that, he's just being expedient and he's not adhering to it.
@josephpolitano @josephpolitano on x
Checked the official list, it's insane that they're exempting smartphones and laptops but not video game consoles. Literal anti-gamer-aktion. (I mean the bigger issue is why haven't you exempted bananas but I guess that one is still too complicated for Howard Lutnick to grasp)
@mattbruenig Matt Bruenig on x
[Sighing, balling up paper that says New Business Idea — open smartphone factory in America] on to something else
@jessesingal Jesse Singal on x
One thing to threaten the global economy because you have a strong theory about how international trade should be organized. It's another to threaten the global economy while bouncing around aimlessly like an ADD-addled toddler. There's no there there. Morons all the way down.
@mattyglesias Matthew Yglesias on x
Good for Tim Cook, but if the way to keep your business viable is to lobby/cajole Donald Trump for tariff exemptions then the whole thing becomes at best a protection racket for large incumbent businesses and at worst an orgy or corruption.
@petespiliakos Peter Spiliakos on x
We're gonna exempt Chinese computer and smartphone manufacturing from tariffs, but you betcha we're gonna tariff Vietnam's tee shirt industry back to the good old U. S. of A.
@zac_petkanas Zac Petkanas on x
So huge companies run by billionaires with large teams of lobbyists can get their products exempted. But what about small business owners who have had their livelihoods destroyed in the last week?
@keithmancuso Keith Mancuso on x
Trump caves on most Chinese tariffs without even talking to China.
@besttrousers Matt Darling on x
Ok, but at least people will start investing in The American Halloween Decoration Industry.
@aaronblake Aaron Blake on x
Lutnick 5 days ago said smartphone manufacturing was coming to the U.S. because of tariffs. Now we learn smartphones are excluded from the tariffs. [image]
@pewilliams_ Paul E Williams on x
I literally just closed on a loan to open an iPhone factory what am I supposed to do now
@jamessurowiecki James Surowiecki on x
I'm obviously glad someone in the Trump administration has sense. But they are such jokers. “We are going to isolate China and punish it. But not when it comes to selling us smartphones and all computer products - which are the most valuable consumer products we buy from China.”
@historyboomer Carl on x
Raise tariffs on the world to protect American industry!—world tariffs down for 90 days because I made a deal [what deal?] the best deal!—but China tariffs stay to protect American industry—China must surrender!—no tariffs on computers—I made a great deal the best deal!—wheeeeee!
@travisyost Travis Yost on x
Five days ago Lutnick (absolute psycho) was saying the exact opposite. The details of this tariff “plan” change hourly. Incoherent.
@mooremorrissemi Moore Morris on x
Smartphone exempted from tariff under 8517.13.00 and PC exempted under 8471. This could extend the upcycle longer. Was worried about the pull-in demand for PC and smartphone under the 90 days pause. Inventory buildup leads to future correction https://content.govdelivery.com/ ...
@dkthomp Derek Thompson on x
Imagine trying to manage a supply chain right now. Every 48 hours, the White House is announcing, or un-announcing, or re-announcing, or creating massive carve outs to, a new trade rule. Why would anyone anywhere build a new factory under these conditions?
@dkaushik96 Divyansh Kaushik on x
Two days after this tweet, CBP excluded almost everything relevant for AI development from reciprocal tariffs. Guidance went live yesterday. https://content.govdelivery.com/ ... [image]
@nmf_bru @nmf_bru on x
So China's biggest exports to US are exempted.
@scottlincicome Scott Lincicome on x
MAGA (and certain Trump admin officials) spent days saying we're def gonna make iPhones in America, and then this leaks out on a Friday night. 🤣
@danpfeiffer Dan Pfeiffer on x
The tariffs are another way for Trump to shake down American companies, reward his friends and punish his enemies
@scottlincicome Scott Lincicome on x
Tim Apple wins again: “Trump Exempts Phones, Computers, Chips From ‘Reciprocal’ Tariffs” https://www.bloomberg.com/... [image]
@mohit_emkay Mohit Kalra on x
@markgurman That is a brilliant news, and it would be beneficial for so many small, medium and large organisations across the world. Thank goodness! It is a moment to celebrate in a subtle manner, and hope things improve from here for a greater good for people at large. Thank you…
@seanobannon_ Sean O'Bannon on x
@markgurman tim apple deserves every cent of his paycheck on this one
@confusedsith N Bot on x
Hash tag Tim Cook is not “innovative” lmao.
@modestproposal1 @modestproposal1 on x
Wow what a lucky break for the people gunning Apple yesterday
@jraines Jeremy on x
Cleared an irresponsible Apple cart phew
@rjunkapoor Arjun on x
That and US demand being ~covered by India et al is probably why AAPL is back at $200
@anthonydelage Anthony Delage on x
The irony is that semiconductors are one of the strategic manufacturing areas the US should be trying hardest to repatriate. Instead, they incentivize even more Chinese comparative advantage. Great job Donald, ya fuckin' monkey.
@morqon Morgan on x
tim cook's $1 million donation paid off
@itsandrewjude Andrew Jude on x
Tim Cook the GOAT
@nkulw Noah Kulwin on x
In latest escalation of trade war Trump announces devastating new tariff against China with... exemptions for the most in-demand consumer products from China
@realjimchanos James Chanos on x
So we won't be assembling smartphones here, after all...?!
@teroterotero Tero Kuittinen on x
Woah - he just gave China a huge win without a phone call with Xi. Just backed down. Tariffs really are gonna be changing every day.
@divestech Dan Ives on x
Finally the news US tech investors were dreaming of...chips/smartphones/computers exempt from tariffs. US Big Tech spoke and the White House made the right move at the right time. Massive relief for market and tech stocks into Sunday night 🏆👇🐂 [image]
@charlesarthur Charles Arthur on x
What about games consoles though? Also TVs, they're like (or are) computer monitors? Perhaps hi-fi systems, they're sort of computer-y? Do wireless earbuds count? How about Sonos gear, those are PCs really with a big speaker?
@dimi Demetri on x
BIG DEAL - Trump excludes smartphones, PCs and laptops from reciprocal tariffs. https://www.ft.com/...
@markgurman Mark Gurman on x
BREAKING: President Donald Trump's administration exempted smartphones, computers and other electronics from its so-called reciprocal tariffs in win for Apple (and shoppers). This lowers the China tariff from 125%. https://www.bloomberg.com/...
@benthompson Ben Thompson on x
Tim Cook earned his paycheck
@tianan_ @tianan_ on x
According to CSMS #64724565, products classified under HTSUS codes are excluded from reciprocal tariffs imposed under Executive Order 14257. The list includes: 8471: Automatic data processing machines (computers/PCs) 8517.13.00: Smartphones 8541/8542: Semiconductor devices
@mgsiegler M.G. Siegler on x
[image]
r/facepalm r on reddit
Trump exempts smartphones and computers from new tariffs - BBC News
r/france r on reddit
Trump exempts smartphones and computers from new tariffs
r/CanadianInvestor r on reddit
Trump exempts phones, computers, chips from new tariffs
r/SBCGaming r on reddit
What's this mean for handhelds?
r/QuiverQuantitative r on reddit
Trump exempts phones, computers, chips from new tariffs.
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Trump exempts phones, computers, chips from new tariffs.
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Trump exempts phones, computers, chips from new tariffs
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Trump Exempts Phones, Computers, Chips From ‘Reciprocal’ Tariffs
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Trump exempts phones, computers, chips from new tariffs
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Trump exempts phones, computers, chips from new tariffs
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Trump exempts phones, computers, chips from new tariffs
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Trump Exempts Phones, Computers, Chips From ‘Reciprocal’ Tariffs
r/GME r on reddit
Most GME products will be exempt from tariffs!
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Trump exempts phones, computers, chips from new tariffs
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Trump exempts phones, computers, chips from new tariffs
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Trump exempts phones, computers, chips from new tariffs
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Trump Exempts Phones, Computers, Chips From ‘Reciprocal’ Tariffs
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Trump exempts phones, computers, chips from new tariffs
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Trump exempts phones, computers, chips from new tariffs
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Trump Exempts Phones, Computers, Chips From ‘Reciprocal’ Tariffs
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Trump exempts phones, computers, chips from tariffs
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Trump Exempts Phones, Computers, Chips From ‘Reciprocal’ Tariffs
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Trump exempts phones, computers, chips from new tarriffs
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Trump Exempts Phones, Computers, Chips From ‘Reciprocal’ Tariff
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Trump Exempts Phones, Computers, Chips From ‘Reciprocal’ Tariffs
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Trump exempts hard drives from reciprocal tariffs
r/wallstreetbets r on reddit
Trump Exempts Phones, Computers, Chips From Tariffs
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Trump Exempts Phones, Computers, Chips From ‘Reciprocal’ Tariffs
r/China r on reddit
Trump exempts phones, computers, chips from new tariffs
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Trump Exempts Phones, Computers, Chips From ‘Reciprocal’ Tariffs
r/Economics r on reddit
Tariffs will now exempts phones, computers and chips
r/hardware r on reddit
Trump Exempts Phones, Computers, Chips From ‘Reciprocal’ Tariffs
r/Quebec r on reddit
Les États-Unis exemptent l'électronique de leurs tarifs réciproques
r/NintendoSwitch2 r on reddit
Trump Exempts Phones, Computers, Chips From ‘Reciprocal’ Tariffs
r/baba r on reddit
Trump Exempts Phones, Computers, Chips From ‘Reciprocal’ Tariffs
r/wallstreetbets r on reddit
U.S. Announces Reciprocal Tariff Exemptions for Smartphones,Computers, and Integrated Circuits
r/NVDA_Stock r on reddit
CSMS # 64724565 - UPDATED GUIDANCE - Reciprocal Tariff Exclusion for Specified Products; April 5, 2025 Effective Date
r/WallStreetbetsELITE r on reddit
U.S. Announces Reciprocal Tariff Exemptions for Smartphones, Computers, and Integrated Circuits

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