US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said that the exemption of technology products from tariffs announced by the Donald Trump administration is a temporary measure, TechCrunch reports, citing ABC News.
It was announced on Friday that consumer electronics, including laptops and smartphones, would not be subject to the new tariffs. However, the base tariff of 10% remains in place, and an additional tariff of 125% has been imposed on Chinese goods.
Lutnik said that "in a month or two" technology products, especially semiconductors, could be subject to special tariffs. He stressed the need to produce semiconductors, chips and flat panels in the United States to ensure they return to the country. Lutnik also dismissed the possibility of higher prices for American consumers due to these tariffs, emphasizing the importance of manufacturing in America.
Meanwhile, President Trump, on his Truth Social media, denied reports that Chinese-made electronics were exempt from tariffs, saying the goods were merely moved to a different tax category. He also added that his administration would consider semiconductors and the entire electronics supply chain in future tariff investigations.