Trump Eases Tech Tariffs on China

Editorial : Reda El Ghaza

The Trump administration has exempted smartphones, laptops, and key tech components-including semiconductors and memory chips-from steep 125% tariffs on Chinese imports, according to updated U.S. Customs guidelines.

The exemptions, covering 20 product categories, signal a potential de-escalation in the trade war and offer relief to firms like Apple, which rely on Chinese manufacturing. While the White House has not commented, the move suggests growing recognition of tariffs’ risks to U.S. consumers and innovation.

Analysts praised the decision as critical for the tech sector. Wedbush’s Daniel Ives called it “the best news for tech investors,” warning that unchecked tariffs could have stalled AI development and “taken the industry back a decade.”

The exemptions also avert fears of soaring prices for popular electronics, such as iPhones, easing pressure on companies and households.

Meanwhile, tensions persist: China imposed retaliatory 125% tariffs on U.S. goods, while the U.S. granted a 90-day tariff pause for most nations, cutting rates to 10%. However, China remains excluded, highlighting the fragile balance between economic pragmatism and ongoing rivalry. Trump’s shift underscores efforts to stabilize trade without ceding ground in the tech Cold War.