Monica Davey / EPA
Apple CEO Tim Cook during the presentation of new Apple products
Donald Trump exempted smartphones, computers and other electronic products from “global reciprocal tariffs” after a tumultuous week in markets due to their global trade war. But if imported from China, these products remain subject to a 20%rate.
According to one published this Saturday by the immigration and customs service, Trump administration exempted a set of consumer electronic products, many of them manufactured in China, climbing customs tariffs recently launched by the US president.
Exemptions are applicable toeleum, portable computersrigid discs, microprocessors and memory chips, as well as the machines used to manufacture semiconductors.
The measure can be a victory for technology companies such as Apple e a Samsungwhich were facing potential price increases, and should alleviate the impact of customs rights on consumers.
However, according to, although these products are not subject to the high tariffs that Trump imposed last week, they may still be subject to a Significant rate if they are manufactured in China.
Num, the White House senior counselor Stephen Miller advises Washington Post journalists to “read before publishing”And clarifies that these products are still“subject to 20% tariff defined in the original executive order on China ”.
Donald Trump implied that is still considering the possibility to apply sectoral tariffs to some goods – including semiconductorswhich are vital to a series of electronic products.
Exemptions come at a time when technological giants Silicon Valley approached Trump, and can be a worse exit (if this is possible) for the administration after the White House press secretary, Karoline Leavittto have said at the beginning of the week that companies like Apple should install their US factories – a process that can take years.
“We have the labor, the workforce and the resources To do this, ”Leavitt said on Tuesday.“ President Trump made it clear that America cannot depend on China to manufacture critical technologiessuch as semiconductors, chips, smartphones and laptops. ”
“The President guaranteed dolions of dollars in investments In the US of the largest technology companies in the world, including Apple, TSMC and Nvidia. Under the direction of the president, These companies are struggling By installing its production in the United States as soon as possible, ”he added.
The potential impact of tariffs on consumer prices has generated huge controversy throughout the week – Including among some of Trump’s most fervent supporters, such as Tesla’s CEOs, Elon Musk. E Da Gamestop, Ryan Cohen.
In the X, Cohen criticized the tariffs, saying that he could barely wait for his “$ 10,000 iPhone manufactured in the USA ”and Musk asked Trump to reverse the policy – a request that will have between the US president and the entrepreneur.
The announcement of Trump’s global trade war on his “” on 2 April, caused shockwaves around the world. Several countries, from China to Canada, responded immediately with.
Following the tariff climbing, scholarship markets, in particular in the technological sector, fell to the pique. In the last week. Several countries have been rushed to release conversations with management and, potentially, to mitigate the impact of customs rights.
On Wednesday, Trump announced one in the “reciprocal tariffs” imposed on the rest of the world, but aggravated the rates imposed on Chinawhich then reached 145%.
Trump had commented before Some sectors may be more affected by tariffs than others – and that would be willing to some “flexibility.”
“Some companies, without its own faultthey are in an industry that is more affected by these things than others, “said Trump on Wednesday.” You have to be able to show a little flexibilityand I am able to do it. ”
If the Trump administration imposes sectoral rates on technologies such as semiconductors, will be probably lower than the current rate Applied to China, says the politician.
A exemption from tariffs to some sectors did not fit all well – that criticize the government for reversing rates only for the benefit of technological giants, and point to the large donations that the sector millionaires, such as the CEO of Apple, Tim Cookoffered Donald Trump at the inauguration of his presidency.
“Like this, while working families pay moreApple receives special treatment, ”the Democratic Congressman GREG CASAR.
Also the senator Chris Murphy criticized different rates as part of “a regime to reward large companies like Apple, which can offer Gigantic donations to Trump“.
“I told you that companies and industries would kneel before Trump to ask for relief and exemptions. And of course Trump will ask for loyalty in return, ”Murphy on X.
