Washington D.C. – April 14, 2025 — In a sweeping reversal that threatens to further escalate the U.S.-China trade war and strain consumer wallets, President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that no exemptions will be granted under his newly imposed global tariffs—including for electronic goods.
The announcement came via a fiery post on Truth Social, where Trump directly addressed confusion stemming from a Friday evening notice suggesting certain Chinese electronics, including popular items like iPhones and laptops, might be spared the hefty 125% import tax or the broader 10% global tariff introduced earlier this month. But on Sunday, Trump made it clear: no product category would be immune.
“NOBODY is getting ‘off the hook’ for the unfair Trade Balances and Non-Monetary Tariff Barriers that other Countries have used against us,” Trump declared. “Especially not China, which by far treats us the worst!”
In his post, Trump dismissed speculation of a tariff exemption as baseless. “There was no Tariff ‘exception’ announced on Friday,” he emphasized, adding that products previously believed to be spared were merely being reassigned to a different “tariff bucket.” He reiterated that electronics remain subject to existing 20% fentanyl-related tariffs and previewed even stricter measures on the horizon.
“We are taking a look at Semiconductors and the WHOLE ELECTRONICS SUPPLY CHAIN in the upcoming National Security Tariff Investigations,” the president warned, signaling further protectionist actions targeting high-tech manufacturing.
The announcement follows a volatile week in U.S.-China relations. Tensions flared after China retaliated by raising its own import levies to 125%, a direct response to Trump’s aggressive tariff expansion, which some experts say effectively placed a 145% tax burden on select Chinese goods. Trump defended the moves, portraying them as vital to countering “hostile trading nations like China,” and accused Beijing of attempting to “disrespect the American People” through economic coercion.
The glimmer of hope that emerged Friday evening, when electronic gadgets appeared to have been spared, quickly vanished as Commerce Secretary Howar Lutnick confirmed on Sunday that the products would still fall under the tariff regime. Speaking in an interview with ABC News, Lutnick explained that while gadgets may not be caught in the current round of reciprocal tariffs, they will be included in a new sectoral tariff package focused on semiconductors, expected to roll out within the next two months.
“These products are going to have a special, focused type of tariff to make sure they get reshored,” Lutnick said. He cited the need to rebuild domestic manufacturing capacity in key sectors like electronics and pharmaceuticals, claiming that reshoring is essential to long-term national security and economic independence.
However, industry experts are warning that such reshoring efforts could take years to bear fruit. Companies like Apple, which manufacture more than 80% of their devices in China, would be hit especially hard. Apple has already lost $640 billion in market value since the initial tariff announcement, as investors brace for higher production costs and consumer price hikes.
Despite the economic risks, there are no immediate plans for de-escalation. According to White House officials, President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping have no scheduled talks, even as trade tensions continue to snowball.
For now, American consumers are bracing for impact. With no relief in sight and tariffs set to extend across critical supply chains, everyday goods—including electronics—are poised to become significantly more expensive.
