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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.”

“Postpone Tariffs”: Wary Vietnam Appeals Trump to Delay Enforcement

Vietnam has formally requested that the United States delay enforcement of a sweeping 46% tariff on Vietnamese exports, just days before the measure is set to take effect on Wednesday, April 9, 2025.

In a bid to avert major disruptions to its export-driven economy, Hanoi has asked for a pause of at least 45 days while both sides pursue negotiations, according to Vietnamese officials. The request was delivered during a meeting on Sunday between Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son and U.S. Ambassador Marc Knapper in the Vietnamese capital.

The move comes after Vietnamese Communist Party chief To Lam was among the first world leaders to speak directly with President Donald Trump following his announcement last week of blanket “reciprocal tariffs” on over 180 countries. Vietnam’s rate—one of the highest—has alarmed policymakers and business leaders across the country.

In a letter dated April 5, reportedly from Lam to Trump and circulating online, the Vietnamese leader urged the U.S. to postpone tariff implementation to allow time for diplomatic resolution. The New York Times cited the letter, though its authenticity has not been independently verified.

Meanwhile, Deputy PM Ho Duc Phoc, appointed as special envoy to the U.S., is leading a delegation to Washington and Cuba from April 6–16. Vietnamese officials say Phoc will engage in high-level talks aimed at securing a temporary delay of one to three months. “The decision to impose reciprocal tariffs is inconsistent with the current state of bilateral trade relations,” Son told the U.S. ambassador, emphasizing that the move undermines the spirit of the two countries’ comprehensive strategic partnership.

Vietnam has seen rapid economic growth in recent years, in part by capitalizing on shifting global supply chains amid U.S.-China trade tensions. The new tariffs now pose a serious risk to key sectors including electronics, textiles, and agriculture.

‘Market Speaks’: China Blasts US Tariffs After Stocks Nosedive, Urges Dialogue

China issued a pointed response to sweeping new U.S. tariffs on Saturday, condemning the measures as economically reckless and politically damaging, while pointing to the global market selloff as proof of their destabilizing impact.

With stock markets around the world sliding sharply—Wall Street saw its worst week since the pandemic—Beijing warned Washington against using trade as a geopolitical weapon. The Chinese foreign ministry said the reaction from investors sent a clear message: “The market has spoken.”

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun in a social media post accompanied by images of the week’s market rout, said:“Now is the time for the U.S. to stop making wrong choices.”

The escalating trade tensions stem from President Donald Trump’s latest round of 34% tariffs on Chinese imports, raising total duties on Chinese goods this year to 54%. The move also included shutting down a loophole that allowed small parcels from China to enter the U.S. untaxed.

Beijing Hits Back Hard

In retaliation, Beijing imposed mirror tariffs on U.S. exports and introduced restrictions on select rare earth materials, adding fuel to a trade conflict already straining the world’s two largest economies. These countermeasures triggered a steep global selloff, with the S&P 500 closing down 9% for the week.

In a statement carried by Xinhua, China’s state-run news agency, officials called the U.S. actions a threat to global economic stability and a violation of the principles underpinning international trade. “Tariffs should not be tools of suppression,” the statement read. “The United States must cease undermining China’s right to pursue legitimate development.”

China pledged to “take all necessary steps” to defend its sovereignty and development interests, adding that it would not hesitate to act again if provoked.

Hong Kong Stays Neutral

Chinese trade associations representing key sectors—including metals, electronics, textiles, and agriculture—issued coordinated statements denouncing the tariffs. Food industry leaders urged exporters to strengthen internal cooperation and pivot to new markets across Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong’s Financial Secretary Paul Chan said the city would not impose any retaliatory measures of its own, stressing its position as a free port and open economy. “Maintaining the free flow of capital and goods is our core advantage,” Chan said in an interview with RTHK. “We remain committed to a rules-based global trade system.”

Otherwise, for now, the global response is clear: rising tariffs, deepening divides, and markets in freefall — with no resolution in sight.

Trump’s 10% Tariff On All Imports Sparks Global Market Rout, Consumer Panic

President Donald Trump’s sweeping 10% tariff on all imports has sent shockwaves through the global economy, rattling financial markets, disrupting trade norms, and sparking consumer panic across the United States.

The tariff—applied unilaterally at U.S. seaports, airports, and customs facilities—marks a dramatic departure from the decades-old framework of negotiated trade agreements. Kelly Ann Shaw, a trade attorney at Hogan Lovells and former White House trade adviser, called it “the single biggest trade action of our lifetime.”

The announcement has wreaked havoc on global financial markets. In just two days, more than $5 trillion in value was wiped off the S&P 500, which plunged 10%, marking its steepest two-day drop since the COVID-19 crash in March 2020. The Dow Jones Industrial Average sank over 2,000 points, while the Nasdaq slipped into bear market territory.

The fallout is already global. The initial tariff wave has affected imports from a wide range of nations—including Australia, the UK, Colombia, Argentina, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia—with higher duties on goods from 57 major trading partners set to kick in next week.

“This is effectively a massive tax hike on American consumers and businesses,” said Michael Strain, director of Economic Policy Studies at the American Enterprise Institute. “We estimate it will cost households and businesses between $400–500 billion this year alone.”

Consumer Rush to Beat Rising Prices

The announcement has triggered a surge in consumer spending as Americans rush to buy goods ahead of anticipated price hikes. From avocados to automobiles, electronics to everyday essentials, retailers are reporting stockpiling behavior.

Car dealerships have seen a notable uptick in activity, particularly for foreign-assembled vehicles, while demand for laptops, smartphones, and home appliances has spiked. Retailers are bracing for potential shortages as supply chains adjust to the sudden policy shift.

Adding to the domestic shake-up, the Trump administration has unveiled new immigration policy measures, placing added scrutiny on green card applicants. The centerpiece is an updated Form I-485, which now requires extensive financial disclosures and in-person interviews for marriage-based applications.

The revised form also reintroduces the term “alien” in official usage, drawing criticism from immigration advocates. According to Newsweek, use of the updated form became mandatory as of January 20. Critics say the changes could disproportionately burden low-income applicants and complicate an already lengthy process.

Trump’s tariff marks a sharp reversal from the post-World War II era of multilateral trade pacts. Economists warn the move could fragment the global trade system and set off retaliatory measures, with uncertain long-term consequences for global growth.

As markets tumble, consumers scramble, and policy experts warn of economic strain, the world is watching how the U.S. will navigate the fallout—and how other countries will respond.

“This is a defining moment for global trade,” said Shaw. “The aftershocks of this action will be felt for years.”