US President Donald Trump has said that no country, including China, will be excused from paying tariffs, even though there is a temporary pause on some trade duties. He made this clear in a social media post on Sunday, where he explained that recent news about exemptions on Chinese electronics like smartphones and computers does not mean any permanent relief.
“There was no tariff ‘exception’ announced on Friday,” Trump wrote. “These products are subject to the existing 20 per cent Fentanyl Tariffs, and they are just moving to a different Tariff ‘bucket’.”
What triggered the confusion over the tariff pause?
Last week, the US Customs and Border Protection announced that certain Chinese-made electronics—such as smartphones, computers, and other gadgets—would not be affected by the 145 per cent reciprocal tariffs that were recently introduced. This announcement gave the impression that these products would be fully exempt from the new trade duties.
This news was welcomed by major US tech companies like Apple and Nvidia, which had raised concerns that such high tariffs would raise prices for American consumers and hurt business.
However, Trump dismissed those assumptions and said the exemption was only temporary and limited. “NOBODY is getting ‘off the hook’ for the unfair trade balances and non-monetary tariff barriers that other countries have used against us,” he posted on Truth Social. He also said the US government is closely looking at the entire electronics supply chain, including semiconductors.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick added more detail by saying, “Electronics are exempt from the reciprocal tariffs, but they’re included in the semiconductor tariffs, which are coming in probably a month or two,” Lutnick told ABC News.
This means that while the 145 per cent tariff on electronics might not apply immediately, other tariffs, including those on semiconductors, will be introduced soon—still affecting the same tech products.
Why is the US imposing these tariffs, and what is China doing in response?
The US and China have been locked in a trade war for several years. Trump’s administration argues that China has taken unfair advantage of the US by using trade barriers and manipulating its currency. Trump wants to bring back manufacturing to the US, especially in critical sectors like electronics and semiconductors.
“This is about making products in America,” Trump said. “We will not be held hostage by other countries, especially hostile trading nations like China.”
As part of this effort, the US recently imposed a 145 per cent tariff on Chinese goods. In return, China imposed a 125 per cent tariff on American imports, continuing the tit-for-tat trade war between the two largest economies in the world.
The Trump administration is also focusing on semiconductors, which are vital parts in all kinds of electronics—from phones to cars. These new semiconductor tariffs are expected to be introduced in the next one or two months.
“This is about national security as much as economics,” Trump has said earlier, pointing out the US must have control over technologies that power modern devices and weapons.
Stocks of major companies like Apple and Nvidia did see a brief increase after the announcement of the temporary exemption. However, market experts and political leaders are still unsure about what will happen next due to Trump’s sudden and bold decisions.
Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren criticised the policy, saying it showed “chaos and corruption”.
Meanwhile, China has called on the US to cancel these trade measures. Chinese President Xi Jinping is also planning a visit to Vietnam to improve relations with nearby countries, likely in response to the pressure from the US.
Still, Trump appears firm in his strategy. “The bottom line is that our country will be bigger, better, and stronger than ever before,” he said. “We will, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
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