U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has clarified that smartphones, computers, and a range of electronics currently exempted from the United States’ reciprocal tariffs will soon be subject to a new wave of targeted semiconductor tariffs. The announcement, made during an interview with ABC’s “This Week,” confirms that the temporary reprieve granted to major tech firms may be short-lived.
Exemptions Not Permanent, Tariffs to Resurface in a Month
Late on Friday, the Trump administration offered temporary relief to several tech categories—primarily smartphones, laptops, semiconductors, and flat-panel displays—excluding them from the sweeping reciprocal tariffs imposed earlier this month. This move was widely viewed as a major reprieve for companies like Apple, which depend on importing key components from China and other Asian markets.
However, Secretary Lutnick stressed that this exemption is only temporary and that the administration plans to reimpose duties under a new tariff framework focused on reshoring semiconductor and electronics manufacturing.
“All those products are going to come under semiconductors, and they’re going to have a special focus type of tariff to make sure that those products get reshored,” Lutnick said. “We need to have chips and flat panels made in America. We can’t be reliant on Southeast Asia, particularly China.”
He added that the new tariffs will likely be introduced “in a month or two,” signalling a clear intent to push for domestic manufacturing of key tech infrastructure under the guise of national security.
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Tariffs as a Reshoring Tool
In addition to semiconductors and electronics, Lutnick said pharmaceutical products will also face new tariffs soon. “This is not a permanent exemption,” he said. “These are national security issues and we need to bring these industries back to the US.”
This announcement comes in the wake of President Donald Trump’s 90-day suspension of steep tariffs imposed on over 75 countries, excluding China. The administration’s tariff plan had sparked a global backlash and widespread concerns about supply chain disruptions and potential recessionary effects.
As the US looks to reshape its trade dependencies, industry observers remain cautious about the long-term implications for global electronics supply chains and foreign trade relations.