Smartphones won’t get exemption from higher tariffs after all

United States President Donald Trump denies that consumer electronic products like smartphones will be exempt from higher trade tariffs. Instead, they’ll be subject to a 20 percent import tax.

Last week, both American and international media news outlets wrote that President Trump would exclude numerous consumer electronic products from higher import tariffs, such as smartphones, hard drives, laptops, computer processors, and memory chips.

He allegedly did this because some products would become two to three times more expensive in the US if the charges for the new import tariffs were passed on to consumers.

In a post on Truth Social, President Trump denies he ever announced any tariff exemptions.

“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! There was no tariff ‘exception’ announced on Friday,” he says.

Instead, President Trump will be imposing the existing 20 percent tariffs on the aforementioned consumer electronic products.

In addition, Trump revealed that the National Security Tariff Investigations is looking closely at semiconductors and “the whole electronics supply chain.”

“What has been exposed is that we need to make products in the United States, and that we will not be held hostage by other countries, especially hostile trading nations like China, which will do everything within its power to disrespect the American People. We also cannot let them continue to abuse us on trade like they have for decades, THOSE DAYS ARE OVER!”

President Trump promises the American people they can look forward to “more and better paying jobs” if more products are made in the United States.

“The bottom line is that our Country will be bigger, better, and stronger than ever before. We will, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”

In an interview with ABC News, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said that consumer electronics will be included in a new category of sectoral tariffs.

“They’re going to have a special, focused type of tariff. The goal is to get these products reshored. Built in America,” he explained.

Lutnick said that we can expect the real blow in a month or two, once the next wave of sectoral tariffs kicks in.