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Lutnick: Smartphone tariff exemptions are temporary
The hill ^ | 13th April 2025 | Brett Samuels

Posted on 04/13/2025 11:02:44 AM PDT by Cronos

The Trump administration’s move to exempt smartphones, computers and other electronics from sweeping “reciprocal” tariffs is only a temporary measure, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Sunday, indicating those devices would be covered by upcoming sector-based tariffs.

“This is not like a permanent sort of exemption. [Trump’s] just clarifying that these are not available to be negotiated away by countries. These are things that are national security, that we need to be made in America,” Lutnick told ABC’s “This Week.”

Customs and Border Protection, which handles the collection of tariffs, posted a notice late Friday that certain electronics would be exempted from “reciprocal” tariffs imposed on other nations, including China.

But Lutnick told ABC News that the excluded devices, such as smartphones, computers, routers and other electronics, will likely be covered under tariffs President Trump is set to impose on semiconductors.

“So, what he’s doing is he’s saying they’re exempt from the reciprocal tariffs but they’re included in the semiconductor tariffs, which are coming in probably a month or two,” Lutnick said. “So, these are coming soon. You shouldn’t think this is really outside of it. Really think of it as being included in the semiconductor space.”

Lutnick argued the tariffs on semiconductors would be part of an effort to bring manufacturing of those electronics back to the United States.

The initial exemptions appeared to be a break for consumers, who were facing the possibility of paying higher prices on electronics because of steep tariffs imposed on China. It was also an apparent win for companies like Apple, which manufactures many of its products in China.

The decision to exempt certain products only to add tariffs on them later could also add to some confusion around the Trump administration’s rollout of its tariff policy.

Trump has in recent months announced tariffs on Canada and Mexico only to delay them for a month. He then imposed tariffs on Canada and Mexico, but then announced many products covered under a 2020 trade agreement would be exempt.

The president also announced a 10 percent baseline tariff on all imports, as well as higher “reciprocal” tariffs on dozens of countries, including Japan, South Korea, China, India, Thailand and the European Union. But Trump has since announced all countries other than China will have their “reciprocal” tariffs reduced to 10 percent for 90 days to allow for negotiations.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: damagingus; gopisdone; jillsbox; losing; tariffsaretaxes; theyareclowns
On again, off again?!?!?
1 posted on 04/13/2025 11:02:44 AM PDT by Cronos
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To: Cronos

They’re starting to look like clowns.


2 posted on 04/13/2025 11:06:29 AM PDT by aquila48 (Do not let them make you "care" ! Guilting you is how they. control you. )
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To: Cronos

I don’t think there’s any plan or strategy. Trump just changes his mind based on who he’s talking to that day. We need a bald plan for these tariffs and the courage to stick to it.


3 posted on 04/13/2025 11:09:08 AM PDT by Kleon
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To: Kleon

No. There is a plan and a strategy. Yes, Wall Street panics can get Trump to walk some things back, at least for a while.

It is a long interview, but this interview with British finance pundit Dominic Frisby is the best insight I have heard on these matters. Worth the 45 minutes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mX48uljttGA&t=2s


4 posted on 04/13/2025 11:33:51 AM PDT by Dr. Sivana ("Whatsoever he shall say to you, do ye." (John 2:5))
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To: Cronos

If Iphones are made here they’ll cost $3,000.


5 posted on 04/13/2025 11:34:17 AM PDT by beethovenfan (The REAL Great Reset will be when Jesus returns. )
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To: Dr. Sivana
Worth the 45 minutes.

Can you boil it down to the essentials?

6 posted on 04/13/2025 11:43:01 AM PDT by Kleon
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To: beethovenfan

If Iphones are made here they’ll cost $3,000.


By the time they are, if ever, labor rates will have tripled. So $3k in today’s money will look cheap. By then, high end phones will be in the $10k range.


7 posted on 04/13/2025 12:09:30 PM PDT by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now its your turn)
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To: aquila48; All

Yup. It takes at least a year to build and get a manufacturing plant up and running. As much as I support Trump, I do not think this strategy was well planned. He should know better since he’s been in construction his entire adult life. IMOHO


8 posted on 04/13/2025 12:13:43 PM PDT by Cobra64 (Common sense isn’t common anymor)
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To: Cronos

Anything he does like this will be done on a whim. In today, out tomorrow, if it lasts that long. But in this situation, he blinked first.


9 posted on 04/13/2025 12:15:09 PM PDT by joesbucks
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To: Cobra64
As much as I support Trump, I do not think this strategy was well planned. He should know better since he’s been in construction his entire adult life. IMOHO

Eventually, Trump will make a trade deal with all countries and then call it a day.

Everyone may get 10%.

China may get 20%.

We'll move on. Everyone will continue to have access to our market. So they can't really complain.

10 posted on 04/13/2025 12:17:22 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
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To: Cobra64

Trump has constructed housing, hotels, clubs and casinos. I don’t believe he has ever constructed factories


11 posted on 04/13/2025 1:08:06 PM PDT by Cronos
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To: aquila48
I read somewhere that this is "four-d chess" that we're seeing here...or something like that.
12 posted on 04/13/2025 1:27:54 PM PDT by skimbell
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To: Cronos

It’s a building. Design, approvals, excavation, foundation, concrete,steel. electrical, plumbing, Cat6, fiber, Sheetrock, paint.


13 posted on 04/13/2025 2:07:35 PM PDT by Cobra64 (Common sense isn’t common anymor)
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To: joesbucks

He did not blink. Stop with than shit.


14 posted on 04/13/2025 2:10:46 PM PDT by WashingtonSource
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To: Cobra64

Not at existing, unused or under utilized factories. Possibly less than a year.


15 posted on 04/13/2025 2:13:54 PM PDT by Fledermaus ("It turns out all we really needed was a new President!")
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To: Fledermaus

Yup… . Example: in a matter of months, Musk turned an Electrolux building into an AI farm with 100,000 Nvidia processors.


16 posted on 04/13/2025 2:22:19 PM PDT by Cobra64 (Common sense isn’t common anymor)
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To: Kleon
Can you boil it down to the essentials?

Not easily. Basically, Trump has been talking about tariffs for a long time (40 years). They are here to stay. Trump's plan is to reindustrialize the U.S. Ther will be short term paid because of existing supply chains, but Red China has many "inputs" just as it has many "outputs", and they will feel the squeeze, too.

Most stocks are held by the top 10%, so Trump isn't prioritizing how the market is doing. He is interested in keep interest rates low, but also using the tariffs/DOGE/Gold Card to reduce the deficit and increase investment to create a "virtuous cycle" to reverse the present debt spiral.

He has to act now, and without a large enough majority in the Senate his weapons are limited. The guest described Trump as a "clown", but NOT as an insult. Clowns are clever. Clowns throw people off their game. Clowns are creative. It may not work, but if it does, the opportunities are amazing. Park money in U.S. based stuff like agriculture and mining. That's off the top of my head.
17 posted on 04/13/2025 2:51:13 PM PDT by Dr. Sivana ("Whatsoever he shall say to you, do ye." (John 2:5))
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To: Cobra64

Vacuums to clean rooms. Ironic.


18 posted on 04/13/2025 3:04:08 PM PDT by Fledermaus ("It turns out all we really needed was a new President!")
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To: Fledermaus

Yup


19 posted on 04/13/2025 3:28:56 PM PDT by Cobra64 (Common sense isn’t common anymor)
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To: WashingtonSource

What concession did he get from the chicoms?


20 posted on 04/13/2025 4:02:22 PM PDT by joesbucks
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