XPost: alt.business.import-export, alt.politics.republicans, alt.fan.rush-limbaugh
XPost: talk.politics.guns, sac.politics

https://www.axios.com/2025/04/13/trump-tariffs-exemption-electronics-
temporary

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Sunday that smartphones and other electronics will be included in future semiconductor sectoral tariffs, two
days after the Trump administration said such products were exempt from
China import levies.

Why it matters: The announced carveout was a win for companies like Apple, which assembles most of its iPhones in China. But the relief is only
temporary, officials clarified Sunday.

The latest: President Trump noted in a Sunday Truth Social post that the
goods are still subject to existing 20% tariffs imposed over the flow of fentanyl and denied that there was a tariff "exception" announced Friday.

However, the presidential memorandum that laid out the designated products
was titled, "Clarification of Exceptions Under Executive Order 14257 of
April 2, 2025, as Amended."
The products are moving to "a different Tariff bucket," Trump wrote,
adding that "We are taking a look at Semiconductors and the WHOLE
ELECTRONICS SUPPLY CHAIN in the upcoming National Security Tariff Investigations."
Driving the news: Lutnick said in a Sunday interview on ABC's "This Week"
that semiconductor tariffs are imminent — meaning that products exempt
from Trump's broad reciprocal tariffs are not free from new levies.

"All those products will come under semiconductors, and they're going to
have a special focus type of tariff to make sure that those products get re-shored," Lutnick said.
"We need to have semiconductors, we need to have chips, and we need to
have flat panels, we need to have these things made in America," he
continued.
What's next: He said a notice could be expected in the Federal Registry
this week and that semiconductor and pharmaceutical tariffs will arrive in
"the next month or two."

Lutnick explained that the products are exempt from reciprocal tariffs,
but that the sector tariffs are a separate issue which "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 added.
Zoom out: National Economic Council director Kevin Hassett explained on
CNN's "State of the Union" that items included under section 232 of the
Trade Expansion Act of 1962 were "always excluded" and were not covered by
the new actions.

The New York Times reported that the administration had previously
signaled it was considering semiconductor tariffs under Section 232, which gives the president the power to adjust imports that are deemed to
threaten national security.
Trump has already used the statute to place 25% levies on imported steel, aluminum and automobiles.
Yes, but: U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer noted on CBS News'
"Face the Nation" Sunday that for "national security tariffs," an
investigation is necessary as part of the process of imposing such levies.

He said the administration has not determined the outcome, but he added,
"we expect there will have to be some kind of tariff."
Catch up quick: The clarification comes after a U.S. Customs and Border Protection bulletin was published Friday night designating electronics
that would be exempt from steep tariffs on Chinese imports and the global
10% rate Trump implemented.

The White House on Saturday released Trump's accompanying memorandum
clarifying the tariff exemptions.
Go deeper: China, EU launch massive U.S. tariff retaliation

Editor's note: This story has been updated with a Truth Social post from
Trump.


--
November 5, 2024 - Congratulations President Donald Trump. We look
forward to America being great again.

The disease known as Kamala Harris has been effectively treated and
eradicated.

We live in a time where intelligent people are being silenced so that
stupid people won't be offended.

Durham Report: The FBI has an integrity problem. It has none.

Thank you for cleaning up the disaster of the 2008-2017 Obama / Biden
fiasco, President Trump.

Under Barack Obama's leadership, the United States of America became the
The World According To Garp. Obama sold out heterosexuals for Hollywood
queer liberal democrat donors.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)