Smartphones and computers are now exempt from Trump’s latest tariffs

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🗞️ Driving the news: The Trump administration has announced a temporary exemption on tariffs for a range of electronics, including smartphones and computer monitors, easing fears of price hikes and supply shocks
• The move follows the imposition of a 145% baseline tariff on Chinese imports, with an additional 20% tariff targeting China’s role in the fentanyl trade
• The exemption, effective retroactively from April 5, is expected to significantly benefit U.S. tech giants like Apple, Nvidia, and Microsoft (See sustainability performance)

🔭 The context: The sweeping tariffs were part of President Trump’s broader trade war strategy aimed at reducing U.S. dependence on China and reshoring critical technology manufacturing
• However, industry backlash and economic concerns — particularly for consumer electronics — prompted the administration to introduce select carve-outs
• With roughly 90% of iPhones made in China, the exemptions provide short-term relief amid ongoing trade tensions

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: While the tariff exemption may stabilize tech markets, it delays efforts to reduce the environmental footprint of global electronics manufacturing
• The U.S. push for domestic production could eventually lower emissions through stricter regulations and cleaner energy, but short-term shifts may lead to overproduction and higher e-waste
• The policy’s impact will depend on how tech companies balance reshoring with sustainability goals

⏭️ What's next: The White House has hinted that the tariff exemptions are temporary, with further negotiations expected
• Trump also pledged a new Section 232 study on semiconductor import risks and reiterated pressure on companies like Apple and TSMC to accelerate U.S.-based production
• Markets responded positively to the exemption news, but the broader trade dispute with China remains unresolved and could intensify in the coming months

💬 One quote: “A big step forward for US tech to get these exemptions and the most bullish news we could have heard this weekend,” - Wedbush Securities

📈 One stat: Approximately 90% of Apple’s iPhones are produced and assembled in China, according to Wedbush Securities

See here detailed sustainability performance of companies like Huawei, Apple, Microsoft and Nvidia

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