Trump Spares Smartphones, Computers, Other Electronics From China Tariffs

U.S. President Donald Trump's administration granted exclusions from steep tariffs on smartphones, computers and some other electronics imported largely from China, providing a big break to tech firms like Apple that rely on imported products.

China said it was evaluating the impact of the exclusions. In a statement on Sunday, the Ministry of Commerce called the move a "small step by U.S. to correct its wrong practice of unilateral 'reciprocal tariffs'."

"The bell on a tiger's neck can only be untied by the person who tied it," the ministry said, urging the U.S. to make a major step in correcting what it called its wrongdoing and cancelling the tariffs completely.

In a notice to shippers late on Friday, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency published a list of tariff codes excluded from the import taxes, with retroactive effect from 12:01 a.m. EDT (0401 GMT) on April 5.

It featured 20 product categories, including the broad 8471 code for all computers, laptops, disc drives and automatic data processing. It also included semiconductor devices, equipment, memory chips and flat panel displays.

The notice gave no explanation for the move, but the exclusion provides welcome relief to major technology firms such as Apple, Dell Technologies and many other importers.

The action also excludes the specified electronics from Trump's 10% "baseline" tariffs on goods from most countries other than China, easing import costs for semiconductors from Taiwan and Apple iPhones produced in India.

Asked on Saturday about his reasoning for the exemptions and plans for semiconductors, Trump told reporters: "I'll give you that answer on Monday. We'll be very specific on Monday ... we're taking in a lot of money, as a country, we're taking in a lot of money."