Apple under threat of tariffs again – U.S. preparing ‘tech tax’
By ForGeeks The Donald Trump administration has confirmed that the exclusion of Apple and other IT companies from new “reciprocal” duties is a temporary measure. Within the next one to two months, tariffs on smartphones, laptops, processors and other devices could return – this time in the form of a “special technology tariff.”
And the tariffs on smartphones, laptops, processors and other devices could return.
Trump gave Apple a break, but not for long
On Friday night, U.S. Customs and Border Protection released a list of exemptions to the recently imposed 125% duty on products from China. That list included smartphones, laptops, hard drives, memory chips and processors. At the same time, the exemptions to the global 10% duty on electronics were clarified.
U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told ABC News, however, that the 125% “reciprocal duty” exemption would not be permanent. He said the government is considering a separate tariff specifically targeting the technology sector – primarily products such as the iPhone.
Technology goods will come under separate investigation
Trump, for his part, confirmed in a post on Truth Social that his administration is “looking at the entire electronics manufacturing cycle” and will soon launch a new investigation that could affect both semiconductors and the entire consumer electronics supply chain.
Separately, he reminded that even though there is an exemption from the 125% duty, Apple products are still subject to the 20% “fentanyl tariff” imposed earlier under the pretext of fighting drug shipments. Without the exemption, the final rate for Chinese Apple products would have been as high as 145%.
Apple is looking for ways around the duties – but it’s not that simple
A scenario in which Apple massively moves device assembly outside of China – to India or Vietnam, for example – seems logical, especially in the face of trade uncertainty. It’s already known that some models, such as the M4 chip-powered MacBook Air and the M3 Ultra-based Mac Studio, are being made in Vietnam.
All of the models, such as the M4-based MacBook Air and the M3 Ultra-based Mac Studio, are being made in Vietnam.
But a large-scale move to new production sites is complicated and not always possible. It remains to be seen whether the company will be able to fully assemble all U.S. shipments outside of China.
It’s not yet clear whether the company will be able to assemble all U.S. shipments outside of China.
