- Trump confirmed there will likely be no tariff exemptions, stating electronics like iPhones and laptops will likely be hit as a part of upcoming nationwide safety investigations.
- Commerce Secretary Lutnick clarified that electronics will face sector-specific semiconductor tariffs, aimed toward reshoring U.S. manufacturing throughout the subsequent 1–2 months.
- Apple took a right away hit, dropping $640B in market worth and dashing 1.5M iPhones from India to the U.S. as fears of rising manufacturing prices develop.
President Donald Trump fired off a Fact Social submit on Sunday, slamming the door on the concept electronics—like smartphones and laptops—would escape his sweeping new tariffs. After some Friday confusion suggesting this stuff may be spared, Trump made it clear: “NOBODY is getting off the hook.”
He doubled down, calling out international locations (China particularly) for “unfair commerce balances” and insisting the U.S. would not tolerate being handled like a “hostage.”
“There was no Tariff ‘exception’ introduced on Friday,” he wrote.
“These merchandise are topic to the prevailing 20% Fentanyl Tariffs, they’re simply transferring to a special Tariff ‘bucket.’”
Trump additionally revealed that his crew is trying carefully at semiconductors and your entire electronics provide chain as a part of the upcoming Nationwide Safety Tariff Investigations.
Electronics within the Crosshairs as White Home Clarifies Stance
What appeared like a late-week exemption rapidly bought walked again. On ABC Information’ ‘This Week’, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick clarified that electronics—sure, together with iPhones and laptops—will likely be included below a brand new class of sectoral tariffs, tied to semiconductors.
“They’re going to have a particular, centered kind of tariff,” Lutnick defined. “The purpose is to get these merchandise reshored. Inbuilt America.”
For now, devices are technically exempt from the reciprocal tariffs, however not for lengthy. Lutnick mentioned the true blow will are available in a month or two, as soon as the following wave of sectoral tariffs kicks in.
This transfer, he added, isn’t about punishment—it’s about technique. Forcing main corporations to rethink the place and the way they manufacture. Whether or not that’s real looking… properly, that’s one other story.
Apple Takes the Hit First and Quick
Apple’s already feeling the sting. After Trump’s preliminary announcement, the corporate noticed $640 billion wiped from its market worth. And whereas they briefly caught a break with the Friday tariff listing—smartphones, exhausting drives, chips had been all seemingly exempt—it now seems that aid was solely momentary.
Analysts warn the price of transferring iPhone manufacturing to the U.S. could possibly be sky-high. Financial institution of America estimates it might push the iPhone 16 Professional Max from $1,199 to $2,300, whereas Wedbush suggests it would hit $3,500 per unit.
Labor prices alone would bounce—$200 per unit within the U.S. vs. about $40 in China. After which there’s the expertise challenge. In response to Apple CEO Tim Prepare dinner, the U.S. doesn’t have almost sufficient expert tooling engineers to deal with high-end electronics manufacturing at scale.
In response, Apple is already performing quick. The corporate reportedly chartered planes to hurry 1.5 million iPhones from India to the U.S., attempting to dodge the early affect of the brand new tariffs.
All of this alerts one factor: the tariff struggle isn’t cooling down. It’s simply getting began.