--- title: Are Smartphones Exempt From Trump's 'Reciprocal' Tariffs? description: A notice from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection alerted the public of a significant update. canonical: https://time.com/7277343/electronics-smartphones-laptops-exempt-from-trump-reciprocal-tariffs/ author: Rebecca Schneid article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2025-04-12T19:19:25.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:50:06.225Z article:section: Politics og:title: Are Smartphones Exempt From Trump's 'Reciprocal' Tariffs? og:description: A notice from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection alerted the public of a significant update. og:url: https://time.com/7277343/electronics-smartphones-laptops-exempt-from-trump-reciprocal-tariffs/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltfe3775a112ffe7c7/6998c5cae2d64bb929c5f407/GettyImages-2208361906.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 8256 og:image:height: 4644 og:image:alt: US-POLITICS-TRUMP-RETURN og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Are Smartphones Exempt From Trump's 'Reciprocal' Tariffs? twitter:description: A notice from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection alerted the public of a significant update. twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltfe3775a112ffe7c7/6998c5cae2d64bb929c5f407/GettyImages-2208361906.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Are Smartphones and Laptops Exempt From Trump's 'Reciprocal' Tariffs? Here's What to Know > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: September 2026. ## TIME Newsletters: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition TIME publishes seven free email newsletters, written and edited by TIME journalists, reaching more than 1.1 million engaged readers. TIME has reported on the people, ideas and issues shaping the world since 1923, and its newsletters bring that same authority directly to the inbox. 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Named editors include Richard Hall (The Brief), Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs (Inside TIME), Eliza Berman (Worth Your Time), Philip Elliott (D.C. Brief), Justin Worland (Future Proof) and Harry Booth (In the Loop). Health Matters is written by TIME's health desk. #### How do I sign up for a TIME newsletter? Go to time.com/newsletters, choose the newsletters you want and enter your email address. There is no cost and no subscription requirement. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=4be47c60-3071-46ca-b28b-17d9883a5e42&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Federal Reserve Chair Says Trump Tariffs Are "Highly Likely" to Raise Inflation [Watch (HLS stream): Federal Reserve Chair Says Trump Tariffs Are "Highly Likely" to Raise Inflation](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/cDMXtZjb.m3u8) (2:20)  _Published 2025-04-16. The Federal Reserve can stay patient and wait to see how tariffs and other economic policies of the Trump administration play out before making any changes to interest rates, Chair Jerome Powell said Wednesday. In his prepared remarks, Powell reiterated that the Trump administration's tariffs are “significantly larger than anticipated." “The same is likely to be true of the economic effects, which will include higher inflation and slower growth,” he said._  by [Rebecca Schneid](https://time.com/author/rebecca-schneid/)  ## Rebecca Schneid Reporter Apr 12, 2025 7:19 PM UTC  President Donald Trump speaks to reporters equipped with smartphones while aboard Air Force One on April 6, 2025. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters equipped with smartphones while aboard Air Force One on April 6, 2025. Mandel Ngan—Getty Images  by [Rebecca Schneid](https://time.com/author/rebecca-schneid/)  ## Rebecca Schneid Reporter Apr 12, 2025 7:19 PM UTC In the latest switch-up in the rollercoaster of events that have followed the April 2 announcement of President Donald Trump’s “reciprocal” tariffs, the Trump Administration has said that some electronics will be exempt from these tariffs. [A notice from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)](https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDHSCBP/bulletins/3db9e55), posted late on Friday night, stated that certain electronic devices will be exempt—including smartphones, laptops, hard drives, flat-panel monitors, and machines used to make semiconductors and some chips. The notice said that the exemption applies to products entering the United States or removed from warehouses dating back to April 5. This means these products can now bypass the significantly high “reciprocal” tariffs on China, where Apple has manufactured most of its iPhones since the first model hit the market 18 years ago. However, as Stephen Miller, Trump’s Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy[, pointed out on X ](https://x.com/StephenM/status/1911092862076289243)on Saturday, these electronics are still “subject to the tariff under the original IEEPA on China of 20 percent.” The tariffs would likely have made a large impact on the purchase of electronics, and by extension, on tech giants such as Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia and Samsung, as many of their supply chains are based in China and other countries outside of the U.S. Some experts estimated that with the tariffs, and before the exemption, the iPhone could have [cost thousands more](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/iphone-price-increase-china-tariffs/) for U.S. consumers, especially if made in the U.S. Trump has previously encouraged tech giants to move their companies and manufacturing to the U.S., and referenced[ Apple’s February announcement](https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/feb/24/apple-us-investment-announcement) that it plans to invest $500 billion in the U.S. in the next four years. In a [Truth Social post on April 9](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114307832213562859), Trump said: “This is a GREAT time to move your COMPANY into the United States of America, like Apple, and so many others, in record numbers, are doing. ZERO TARIFFS, and almost immediate Electrical/Energy hook ups and approvals. No Environmental Delays. DON’T WAIT, DO IT NOW!” However, as the [Washington _Post_ notes,](https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2025/04/08/apple-tariffs-iphones-china-india-trump/) Apple has a complex system that extends beyond the U.S. While their iPhones are designed in California, they are assembled in China and India, with parts sourced from various suppliers. The notice about exemptions comes after Trump [reportedly teased the idea](https://www.politico.eu/article/donald-trump-tariffs-possible-exceptions/) while talking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Friday. “There could be a couple of exceptions for obvious reasons, but I would say 10% is a floor,” said Trump. He did not specify what those reasons were. Experts have been concerned about how Trump’s tariffs would impact consumers as prices are expected to rise. It’s worth noting that China was the second-largest supplier of U.S. goods in 2024, according to[ U.S. Census Bureau data](https://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/balance/c5700.html#questions). (Mexico was the [top source of U.S. imports](https://ustr.gov/countries-regions/americas/mexico#:~:text=Most%20recently%2C%20in%202024%2C%20Mexico,were%20from%20the%20United%20States.).) China is especially known for supplying [broadcasting equipment and computers](https://oec.world/en/profile/bilateral-country/usa/partner/chn) to the U.S. The exemption move is the latest change in Trump’s tariffs plan. U.S. and global stocks tanked, prompting [fears of a recession](https://time.com/7274531/trump-tariffs-is-the-us-heading-into-a-recession-stock-market-fears/), after Trump announced what he refers to as “reciprocal” tariffs on April 2, a day he coined “Liberation Day.” However, on April 9, Trump announced a 90-day pause for most of the “reciprocal” tariffs, with the exception of China, who were hit with much higher import taxes. The tariffs on China now total 145%—a 125% “reciprocal” tariff and a [20% tariff](https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/03/further-amendment-to-duties-addressing-the-synthetic-opioid-supply-chain-in-the-peoples-republic-of-china/) on most goods, as a punishment for the flow of fentanyl into the United States. China has since hit back at the U.S., raising the tariffs on American goods to 125%. ## Transcript [00:00] Looking ahead, looking forward, [00:01] the new administration is in the process of implementing [00:04] a substantial policy changes in four distinct areas trade, [00:11] immigration, fiscal policy and regulation. [00:15] These policies are still evolving and [00:17] their effects on the economy remain highly uncertain. [00:20] As we learn more, we will continue to update our assessment. [00:25] The level of tariff increases announced so far is significantly larger than anticipated, [00:31] and the same is likely to be true of the economic effects, [00:34] which will include higher inflation and slower growth. [00:38] Both survey and market based measures of [00:41] near-term inflation expectations have moved up significantly, [00:44] with survey participants pointing to tariffs. [00:48] Survey measures of longer term inflation. [00:50] Expectations, for the most part, [00:52] appear to remain well anchored as well. [00:55] Tariffs are highly likely to generate at least a temporary rise in inflation. [01:00] The inflationary effects could also be more persistent. [01:04] Avoiding that outcome will depend on the size of the effects, [01:08] on how long it takes for them to pass through fully to prices and [01:12] ultimately on keeping longer term inflation expectations well anchored. [01:17] Our obligation is to keep longer term inflation expectations well anchored, [01:22] and to make certain that a one time increase in [01:24] the price level does not become an ongoing inflation problem. [01:29] As we act to meet that obligation, [01:32] we will balance our maximum employment and price stability mandates, [01:36] keeping in mind that without price stability, [01:38] we cannot achieve the long periods of [01:40] strong labor market conditions that benefit all Americans. [01:45] As that great Chicagoan Ferris Bueller once noted, [01:50] life moves pretty fast for the time being. [01:55] We are well positioned to wait for greater clarity [01:58] before considering any adjustments to our policy stance. [02:01] We continue to analyze the incoming data, [02:04] the evolving outlook, and the balance of risks. [02:06] We understand that elevated levels of unemployment or [02:09] inflation can be damaging and painful for communities, families and businesses. [02:15] We will continue to do everything we can to achieve [02:17] our maximum employment and price stability goals. 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