Some of Apple’s most popular products—including iPhones, iPads, and MacBooks—have just been spared from steep new U.S. tariffs, following a decision by the Trump administration to exempt smartphones, computers, and key electronic components.
The move, announced late Friday by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, rolls back tariffs of up to 125% on Chinese imports and a 10% global baseline tariff, reports Bloomberg. This is a major relief for Apple, Nvidia, and other tech firms that manufacture key devices and parts abroad, particularly in China
The exemptions cover:
Apple relies big time on manufacturing in China and had faced increasing pressure as tariff fears pushed some consumers to rush out and buy devices early. The decision now protects nearly $102 billion US in Chinese tech imports, including $41 billion worth of smartphones in 2024 alone. You can bet Apple CEO Tim Cook is breathing a sigh of relief after learning about this exemption.
While the move is seen as a temporary reprieve, it signals the U.S. federal government’s willingness to soften its stance in specific sectors—particularly as tech companies have promised major U.S. investments.
The White House also confirmed that semiconductor manufacturing equipment from suppliers like ASML and Tokyo Electron will be excluded, a move that supports ongoing U.S. chip factory projects from TSMC, Intel, and Samsung.
This exemption for products from Apple is a big one. Consumers were worried about price increases especially about upcoming products, such as the iPhone 16 series.
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Oh, no! Now I have to return 3 iPhones that I’ve panic-bought just the other day to beat the tariffs.