Category: TECH

US exempts computers, smartphones from Trump tariffs

Smartphones, computers and other electronics are exempted from the growing tariffs trade offensive by the Trump administration.

A notification released late Friday night by the US Customs and Border Protection Office said a host of popular high -tech products for American consumer will not be subject to tariffs and will buffer the public from the increasing cost of omnipresent goods required in everyday life.

Before the administration gave smartphones and electronics exemption, Apple’s popular iPhone – most of which are manufactured in China – could see an increase in prices on a large scale, depending on how Apple reacts to sweeping levy. Experts estimated that the cost may jump by hundreds of dollars.

iPhone The 16 Pro Max 256 GB, which retails for $ 1,199, will jump by $ 1,874, as per an analyst of UBS Investment Research.

Interestingly, the new notice details exemption that covers various electronic goods, including smartphones and components entering the United States from China.

China and the United States have traded barbs over tariff hike in the last two weeks. China said on Friday that it will increase the tariff on US goods from 84% to 125%. High tariffs were about to come into force on Saturday, and China said it would not respond to future American tariff hike. After stopping tariffs on most other countries, President Trump’s universal tariffs on China are increased to 145% now.

Experts had said that the tariffs increased the risks of recession and possibly facilitate inflation.

According to Stephen Miller, the Deputy Chief of Staff of the White House, these electronics are still subject to 20% tariffs on goods imported from China. The tariff declared by the Trump administration on 1st February, was intended to prevent drugs from being sent from Mexico to the United States.

White House Press Secretary said in a statement on Saturday that President Trump “has clarified that the US cannot rely on China for the manufacture of important technologies… Now these companies are hustling to increase their manufacturing in the United States as soon as possible.”

Nintendo Dilemma: US Tariffs Chase Switch 2 Console Where Ever It Goes; China Then, Vietnam Now

Nintendo has postponed U.S. pre-orders for its long-awaited Switch 2 console, originally scheduled for April 9, as it evaluates the potential impact of the latest round of U.S. tariffs especially on Vietnam, where it shifted its base five years ago from China.

“Pre-orders for Nintendo Switch 2 in the U.S. will not start April 9, 2025, in order to assess the potential impact of tariffs and evolving market conditions,” the company said in a statement. The official launch date of June 5 remains unchanged.

The delay follows sweeping tariffs introduced this week by the Trump administration, which target a wide range of foreign goods — particularly from Asia, where Nintendo’s supply chain is heavily concentrated. The tariffs come amid a renewed focus on protecting U.S. manufacturing and tech production, though consumer electronics makers warn of higher prices and possible product delays.

The Switch 2 is Nintendo’s most significant hardware release in nearly a decade, building on the blockbuster success of the original Nintendo Switch. First launched in March 2017, the hybrid handheld-console went on to sell over 150 million units worldwide, surpassing the Game Boy and trailing only the PlayStation 2 and Nintendo DS in lifetime sales. The Switch helped revitalize Nintendo’s fortunes after the commercial struggles of the Wii U, which sold just 13.6 million units globally.

The original Switch maintained strong momentum with hit franchises like Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Its lifespan was extended with iterations like the Switch Lite and OLED model. The new Switch 2, revealed just days before the tariffs were announced, is priced at $449.99 with day-one titles like Mario Kart World expected to cost $80.

Last time in 2019, Nintendo faced trade-related challenges and shifted part of its Switch production out of China to Vietnam amid earlier U.S.-China trade tensions. Now, as tariffs threaten a new wave of costs, industry analysts say gaming hardware may become collateral damage in the ongoing trade war.

In 2024, video game hardware sales reached $17.9 billion in the U.S., according to NPD Group, with Nintendo accounting for a significant share. Any disruption to its launch cycle could reverberate across retail and digital ecosystems ahead of the critical summer and holiday sales windows.

Nintendo has not said when pre-orders will resume, only that it is monitoring the situation and will provide updates “at a later date.”

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