The Trump administration has exempted smartphones and various other electronics from the sweeping tariff package the president rolled out last week.
President Donald Trump announced he would pause the higher reciprocal tariff rates for nearly every country on Wednesday for 90 days, while keeping a universal 10% tariff for those countries, and raising tariffs on China to a total of 145%.
Customs and Border Protection on Friday identified exemptions from tariffs for smartphones, various electronic parts and computer monitors, according to a notice filed by the agency. The exemptions apply to “merchandise entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption,” on or after April 5.
The vast majority of consumer electronics are produced overseas, with a significant number of products made in China, where the largest tariffs have been levied on imports into the U.S.
News of the impending tariffs led consumers to panic-buy these products in a bid to avoid additional costs added due to the hefty tariffs.
The president has expressed a willingness to pursue trade deals with countries that have not retaliated against recently imposed tariffs. China, the only country to respond in full force to the Trump tariffs, has instead faced escalating penalties, with total tariffs on imports from China into the United States now at 145%.
WHITE HOUSE: TRUMP WOULD BE ‘GRACIOUS’ IF CHINA COMES FORWARD TO MAKE TRADE DEAL
Despite the frosty trade relations between China and the U.S., the White House said Friday it would be “gracious” if the country reached out to negotiate trade disputes.
“The president, as I said from the podium just a few days ago when I was up here, would be gracious if China intends to make a deal with the U.S.,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Friday. “If China continues to retaliate, it’s not good for China.”