Washington, Apr. 12, (dpa/GNA) – US President Donald Trump’s administration has decided to exempt smartphones and computers from his tariffs, including those imposed on China, according a notice issued by the US Customs and Border Protection agency.

Tech giants like Apple and Samsung, whose mobile phones dominate the US market, will breathe a sigh of relief from the reprieve.

Some hard drives, memory chips, flat-panel displays and other electronics are also exempted.

Economists have warned that Trump’s sweeping “reciprocal” tariff scheme would significantly drive up the prices of popular consumer electronics items sold in the United States, many of which are manufactured abroad in places like China.

While Trump paused most country-specific tariffs for 90 days following a plunge in global stock markets earlier this week, a 145% levy remains in place for Chinese imports.

The revised policy was issued without any publicity by the White House. It was communicated in an updated trade policy notice posted on the agency website on Friday night.

China on Friday raised counter-tariffs on US goods from 84% to 125%.

GNA

PDC