Trump's electronics tariff exemption is temporary, Commerce Secretary says

https://www.axios.com/2025/04/13/trump-tariffs-exemption-electronics-
temporary

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Sunday that smartphones and other 
electronics will be included in future semiconductor sectoral tariffs, two 
days after the Trump administration said such products were exempt from 
China import levies.

Why it matters: The announced carveout was a win for companies like Apple, 
which assembles most of its iPhones in China. But the relief is only 
temporary, officials clarified Sunday.

The latest: President Trump noted in a Sunday Truth Social post that the 
goods are still subject to existing 20% tariffs imposed over the flow of 
fentanyl and denied that there was a tariff "exception" announced Friday.

However, the presidential memorandum that laid out the designated products 
was titled, "Clarification of Exceptions Under Executive Order 14257 of 
April 2, 2025, as Amended."
The products are moving to "a different Tariff bucket," Trump wrote, 
adding that "We are taking a look at Semiconductors and the WHOLE 
ELECTRONICS SUPPLY CHAIN in the upcoming National Security Tariff 
Investigations."
Driving the news: Lutnick said in a Sunday interview on ABC's "This Week" 
that semiconductor tariffs are imminent — meaning that products exempt 
from Trump's broad reciprocal tariffs are not free from new levies.

"All those products will come under semiconductors, and they're going to 
have a special focus type of tariff to make sure that those products get 
re-shored," Lutnick said.
"We need to have semiconductors, we need to have chips, and we need to 
have flat panels, we need to have these things made in America," he 
continued.
What's next: He said a notice could be expected in the Federal Registry 
this week and that semiconductor and pharmaceutical tariffs will arrive in 
"the next month or two."

Lutnick explained that the products are exempt from reciprocal tariffs, 
but that the sector tariffs are a separate issue which "are not available 
to be negotiated away by countries."
"These are things that are national security, that we need to be made in 
America," Lutnick added.
Zoom out: National Economic Council director Kevin Hassett explained on 
CNN's "State of the Union" that items included under section 232 of the 
Trade Expansion Act of 1962 were "always excluded" and were not covered by 
the new actions.

The New York Times reported that the administration had previously 
signaled it was considering semiconductor tariffs under Section 232, which 
gives the president the power to adjust imports that are deemed to 
threaten national security.
Trump has already used the statute to place 25% levies on imported steel, 
aluminum and automobiles.
Yes, but: U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer noted on CBS News' 
"Face the Nation" Sunday that for "national security tariffs," an 
investigation is necessary as part of the process of imposing such levies.

He said the administration has not determined the outcome, but he added, 
"we expect there will have to be some kind of tariff."
Catch up quick: The clarification comes after a U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection bulletin was published Friday night designating electronics 
that would be exempt from steep tariffs on Chinese imports and the global 
10% rate Trump implemented.

The White House on Saturday released Trump's accompanying memorandum 
clarifying the tariff exemptions.
Go deeper: China, EU launch massive U.S. tariff retaliation

Editor's note: This story has been updated with a Truth Social post from 
Trump.


-- 
November 5, 2024 - Congratulations President Donald Trump.  We look 
forward to America being great again.

The disease known as Kamala Harris has been effectively treated and 
eradicated.

We live in a time where intelligent people are being silenced so that 
stupid people won't be offended.

Durham Report: The FBI has an integrity problem.  It has none.

Thank you for cleaning up the disaster of the 2008-2017 Obama / Biden 
fiasco, President Trump.  

Under Barack Obama's leadership, the United States of America became the 
The World According To Garp.  Obama sold out heterosexuals for Hollywood 
queer liberal democrat donors.