Trump exempts smartphones from ‘reciprocal’ tariffs
www.ft.com
Dispensation is first sign of softening of levies against China and provides a big boost for Apple

Archive: https://archive.is/2025.04.12-132331/https://www.ft.com/content/3eb48a07-7cb0-4a44-9159-eb5b402c2fec

The Trump administration has excluded smartphones from its steep “reciprocal” tariffs as it battles to calm global markets by tempering its approach to the multifront trade war launched by the president.

According to a notice posted late on Friday night by Customs and Border Patrol, which is responsible for collecting tariffs, smartphones, along with routers and selected computers and laptops, would be exempt from reciprocal tariffs, which include the 125 per cent levies Donald Trump has imposed on Chinese imports.

    • Lit@lemmy.worldEnglish
      7·
      2 months ago

      China should add export tariffs on smartphones and electronic until Vance says thank you.

  • N3Cr0@lemmy.worldEnglish
    14·
    2 months ago

    I’m happy not to buy an iPhone and instead resort to European (Fairphone) and South Korean brands which actually fit my needs.

    • char_stats@lemm.eeEnglish
      14·
      2 months ago

      Don’t forget all smartphones—except iPhones of course—still use Android, which is a Google OS with Google services. In the smartphone world, there’s no real alternative to American companies. It’s pretty much an American monopoly.

      • N3Cr0@lemmy.worldEnglish
        12·
        2 months ago

        CalyxOS on Fairphone is your friend, my friend. 😎 It’s degoogled and it values your privacy. If you really need an app from Google Play, there is the Aurora store in between. For everything else thete is F-droid and the calyx and guardian repo.

      • Railcar8095@lemm.eeEnglish
        4·
        2 months ago

        There are a handful of smartphones that have other OS, and you can have degoogled Android without Google services.

        It’s not for everyone, but there are options.

  • gargolito@lemm.eeEnglish
    1·
    2 months ago

    I’m sure neither he nor his Mafia aren’t making any money from these market swings.