Trump: The tariff exemption is not true, it just falls into a new category
Mutations! The "tariff stick" of the United States is still swinging wildly! In response to the US customs exemption of some electronic products "reciprocal tariffs" over the weekend, US President Trump said on the 13th local time that there was no tariff "exception" announced on Friday, and relevant products were only transferred to other tariff categories. Trump hinted that the administration could still impose additional tariffs on the semiconductor industry and the broader electronics supply chain.
On the afternoon of April 13 local time, Trump reiterated in his social media platform in response to the "tariff exemption" news that no country can evade tariff sanctions, and on Friday there was no announcement of any "tariff exemption", they were just classified into different tariff categories.
"As part of our upcoming national security tariff investigation, we will continue to impose tariffs on the semiconductor industry and the broader electronics supply chain." We've got to get our products made here in America. America's golden age is upon us, including tax cuts and regulatory reductions, some of which have already been passed by the House and Senate, that will lead to more good-paying jobs and boost domestic manufacturing."
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (Customs and Border Protection) issued a notice on Friday to remove a range of products from the "reciprocal tariffs" list, including communications equipment (smartphones), computers, semiconductor devices, integrated circuit devices, and more. Trump said: "Tariffs will be implemented in the near future. Just as we did with steel, cars, aluminum, now we're going to do the same with semiconductors, chips, and many other products. It will happen in the near future."
The goal, Trump explained, is to incentivize companies to make their products in the United States. However, experts warn that the process could be lengthy and electronics prices could rise. Asked if specific products, such as iphones and tablets, would be subject to tariffs, Trump said he would have discussions with businesses.
"We have to maintain some flexibility," he said. No one should be too stubborn. We are moving in the right direction. Fiscally, our country will be stronger than ever before." However, Trump did not say which products this flexibility might apply to. Trump and other administration officials have previously said the exemptions are only temporary measures and related products will be affected by the upcoming semiconductor tariffs.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick further explained: "What President Trump has done is that these products, while not subject to reciprocal tariffs, have been included in the semiconductor tariffs, which are expected to be introduced in a month or two." These measures will be implemented soon and should not be seen as an anomaly, but as part of semiconductor tariffs."
On the 13th local time, US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick once again stressed that the US government's move to exempt a series of electronic equipment "reciprocal tariffs" on the evening of the 11th is only a temporary measure, and these products will be subject to "semiconductor tariffs", which are expected to be implemented in "one or two months".
Lutnick said: "All these electronic products will be subject to semiconductor tariffs, with special focus tariffs to ensure that these products are re-sold." We need semiconductors, chips and tablets - and we need to make them here in America."
Lutnick also revealed that the White House will implement a "tariff model" to encourage the semiconductor industry and the pharmaceutical industry to move operations to the United States. "We cannot rely on foreign imports and the exemptions for these electronic products are not permanent." President Trump is simply clarifying that these are not issues that countries can negotiate. These measures are a matter of national security, and we need to make these products right here in the United States."
According to Lutnick, the exempted devices, such as smartphones, computers, routers and other electronics, could fall under the scope of Trump's upcoming tariffs on semiconductors. He stressed that the tariffs on semiconductors are part of an effort to bring manufacturing of these electronics back to the United States.
On the same day, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer also said that although the executive order on waivers signed by Trump is partially titled "exception clarification," the waivers are "not really exceptions." "What has happened is that the supply chain for these products has shifted from a global tariff and 'reciprocal tariff' regime to a national security tariff regime," Mr Greer said.
Kevin Hassett, director of the National Economic Council, said the U.S. government is investigating semiconductors under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. The provision allows the president to restrict imports of products deemed vital to U.S. national security after an investigation. Hassett stressed: "Semiconductors are a key component of many defense devices. We will look at these issues carefully and make a decision on which products must be produced domestically."
Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater, the world's largest hedge fund, sharply criticized the "reciprocal tariff" policy on the 13th, saying that the United States is on the brink of a recession and could even face a worse situation.
Dalio said in an interview that Trump's "trade war" could trigger a recession. He warned: "I think we are at a critical decision point, very close to the brink of recession. I fear that if this is not handled properly, there could be something worse than a recession."
On the afternoon of April 13 local time, Trump reiterated in his social media platform in response to the "tariff exemption" news that no country can evade tariff sanctions, and on Friday there was no announcement of any "tariff exemption", they were just classified into different tariff categories.
"As part of our upcoming national security tariff investigation, we will continue to impose tariffs on the semiconductor industry and the broader electronics supply chain." We've got to get our products made here in America. America's golden age is upon us, including tax cuts and regulatory reductions, some of which have already been passed by the House and Senate, that will lead to more good-paying jobs and boost domestic manufacturing."
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (Customs and Border Protection) issued a notice on Friday to remove a range of products from the "reciprocal tariffs" list, including communications equipment (smartphones), computers, semiconductor devices, integrated circuit devices, and more. Trump said: "Tariffs will be implemented in the near future. Just as we did with steel, cars, aluminum, now we're going to do the same with semiconductors, chips, and many other products. It will happen in the near future."
The goal, Trump explained, is to incentivize companies to make their products in the United States. However, experts warn that the process could be lengthy and electronics prices could rise. Asked if specific products, such as iphones and tablets, would be subject to tariffs, Trump said he would have discussions with businesses.
"We have to maintain some flexibility," he said. No one should be too stubborn. We are moving in the right direction. Fiscally, our country will be stronger than ever before." However, Trump did not say which products this flexibility might apply to. Trump and other administration officials have previously said the exemptions are only temporary measures and related products will be affected by the upcoming semiconductor tariffs.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick further explained: "What President Trump has done is that these products, while not subject to reciprocal tariffs, have been included in the semiconductor tariffs, which are expected to be introduced in a month or two." These measures will be implemented soon and should not be seen as an anomaly, but as part of semiconductor tariffs."
On the 13th local time, US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick once again stressed that the US government's move to exempt a series of electronic equipment "reciprocal tariffs" on the evening of the 11th is only a temporary measure, and these products will be subject to "semiconductor tariffs", which are expected to be implemented in "one or two months".
Lutnick said: "All these electronic products will be subject to semiconductor tariffs, with special focus tariffs to ensure that these products are re-sold." We need semiconductors, chips and tablets - and we need to make them here in America."
Lutnick also revealed that the White House will implement a "tariff model" to encourage the semiconductor industry and the pharmaceutical industry to move operations to the United States. "We cannot rely on foreign imports and the exemptions for these electronic products are not permanent." President Trump is simply clarifying that these are not issues that countries can negotiate. These measures are a matter of national security, and we need to make these products right here in the United States."
According to Lutnick, the exempted devices, such as smartphones, computers, routers and other electronics, could fall under the scope of Trump's upcoming tariffs on semiconductors. He stressed that the tariffs on semiconductors are part of an effort to bring manufacturing of these electronics back to the United States.
On the same day, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer also said that although the executive order on waivers signed by Trump is partially titled "exception clarification," the waivers are "not really exceptions." "What has happened is that the supply chain for these products has shifted from a global tariff and 'reciprocal tariff' regime to a national security tariff regime," Mr Greer said.
Kevin Hassett, director of the National Economic Council, said the U.S. government is investigating semiconductors under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. The provision allows the president to restrict imports of products deemed vital to U.S. national security after an investigation. Hassett stressed: "Semiconductors are a key component of many defense devices. We will look at these issues carefully and make a decision on which products must be produced domestically."
Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater, the world's largest hedge fund, sharply criticized the "reciprocal tariff" policy on the 13th, saying that the United States is on the brink of a recession and could even face a worse situation.
Dalio said in an interview that Trump's "trade war" could trigger a recession. He warned: "I think we are at a critical decision point, very close to the brink of recession. I fear that if this is not handled properly, there could be something worse than a recession."
