Donald Trump says ‘temporary pause’ for tariffs on electronics from China. New duties on chips, smartphones coming soon?

Donald Trump’s tariffs war: United States President Donald Trump on April 13 told reporters that the exemption of tariffs on China, for import of electronics is “temporary” and that he is taking a look at semiconductors, for which an announcement will come soon, multiple reports said.

Speaking to reporters aboard the Air Force One on Sunday, Donald Trump reiterated his administrations stance on exclusion of smartphones and computers from tariffs imposed on China, Reuters reported. He has pledged a national security trade investigation into chips and semiconductors soon.

Donald Trump Tariffs War: What Did he Say?

Posting on his social media platform Truth Social, Donald Trump wrote: “NOBODY is getting “off the hook” for the unfair Trade Balances, and Non Monetary Tariff Barriers, that other Countries have used against us, especially not China which, by far, treats us the worst! (sic)”

“There was no Tariff “exception” announced on Friday. These products are subject to the existing 20% Fentanyl Tariffs, and they are just moving to a different Tariff “bucket.” The Fake News knows this, but refuses to report it. We are taking a look at Semiconductors and the WHOLE ELECTRONICS SUPPLY CHAIN in the upcoming National Security Tariff Investigations (sic),” Donald Trump added.

White House Says ‘Exclusions’ for Tariffs? Details…

The US White House on April 11 announced some exclusions from steep reciprocal tariffs, in what was viewed as a “big break” for tech giants such as Apple and Dell, who rely on Chinese imports for their products.

Trump’s commerce secretary, Howard Lutnick, earlier on Sunday said that critical technology products from China would face separate new duties along with semiconductors within the next two months.

Lutnick said Trump would enact “a special focus-type of tariff” on smartphones, computers and other electronics products in a month or two, alongside sectoral tariffs targeting semiconductors and pharmaceuticals. The new duties would fall outside Trump’s so-called reciprocal tariffs, under which levies on Chinese imports climbed to 125% last week, he said.

“He’s saying they’re exempt from the reciprocal tariffs, but they’re included in the semiconductor tariffs, which are coming in probably a month or two,” Lutnick said in an interview on ABC’s “This Week,” predicting that the levies would bring production of those products to the United States. “These are things that are national security, that we need to be made in America.”

(With inputs from Agencies)