US President Donald Trump’s administration has removed smartphones, laptops, and other electronic devices from its list of steep tariffs. The surprise move was revealed late Friday in a notice from US Customs and Border Patrol, sparking relief across the tech industry.
These products are now excluded from Trump’s 10% global tariff and the far higher 125% tax on Chinese imports.
The decision follows strong warnings from major tech firms that prices could soar if tariffs were passed to consumers.
Industry leaders had feared that iPhones and similar devices, mostly made in China, might triple in price in the US.
The White House said the exemption, backdated to 5 April, also covers semiconductors, solar panels, and memory cards.
Tech analyst Dan Ives called the move a “game-changer,” noting that Apple, Microsoft, and Nvidia are big winners here.
“This is the dream scenario for tech investors,” Ives posted on X, highlighting the importance of excluding chips and phones.
The White House insists the break is temporary, designed to give firms time to shift production back to the US.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump believes America must stop depending on China for key technologies.
Trump, speaking from his Florida home, defended the tariffs and said they would lead to “something positive.”
Meanwhile, goods still face a 20% China-related tax linked to fentanyl, officials said.
Apple is now accelerating production in India, aiming to reduce reliance on China in the coming months.
