[Supplementary Update] 2025 U.S. Tariff Policy on Electronics and Semiconductors



On April 12, 2025, the White House released an official memorandum from President Donald Trump confirming the exclusion of smartphones, laptops, semiconductors, and related electronics from reciprocal tariffs. This follows the Executive Order announced on April 2 and retroactively applies from April 5, as implemented by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

This policy shift is expected to significantly impact global supply chains and benefit U.S. consumers. The following summary outlines the background, exemption criteria, eligible items, and possible future developments.

Background: Trump Administration's Reciprocal Tariff Framework

On April 2, 2025, President Trump unveiled a new reciprocal tariff regime aimed at correcting trade imbalances and protecting U.S. industries.

  • China was subject to tariffs up to 125%.

  • Most other countries faced a baseline reciprocal tariff of 10%.

Strategic sectors, including semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, energy, and critical minerals, were initially exempt from these tariffs.

White House Memorandum: Definition and Refund Guidelines for Semiconductor-Related Goods

At 1:07 PM EDT on April 12, the official White House site published the memorandum clarifying the tariff exemptions.

  • Definition of Semiconductor-Related Goods: Includes computers, computer components, semiconductor manufacturing equipment, smartphones, networking equipment, storage devices, display units, and other semiconductor-related products.

  • Refund Policy: Tariffs mistakenly imposed after 1:00 AM EDT on April 5, 2025, will be fully refunded through the U.S. CBP.

List of Exempted Items (As Announced by CBP on April 11)

The CBP outlined a detailed list of electronics that are now exempt from reciprocal tariffs:

  • Smartphones

  • Laptops

  • Hard disk drives

  • Computer processors (CPUs)

  • Memory chips

  • Semiconductor manufacturing equipment

These measures are widely seen as favorable to tech giants such as Apple, Samsung Electronics, and TSMC.

Are Chinese Products Still Subject to 20% Tariffs?

Reports from Bloomberg and the Financial Times suggest that while reciprocal tariffs have been lifted, certain Chinese imports may still be subject to an existing “10%+10%” (totaling 20%) product-specific tariff.

This tariff is based on the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and is not considered a new measure.

U.S. Homeland Security Advisor Stephen Miller reiterated on social platform X that these tariffs on Chinese electronics stem from preexisting IEEPA provisions.

Possibility of Future Tariff Changes

Although semiconductors and smartphones are currently exempt, the White House and CBP have indicated that product-specific tariffs may still be applied in the future.

Items currently exempt but potentially subject to future tariffs include:

  • Copper

  • Pharmaceuticals

  • Lumber products

  • Critical minerals

  • Energy and related equipment

Additionally, the 90-day tariff relief period, set to end on July 8, 2025, could result in tariff policy revisions.

Conclusion

The April 12 White House memorandum excludes semiconductors and key electronics from reciprocal tariffs and mandates refunds for wrongly imposed duties.

This move aligns with the April 2 Executive Order and is seen as a positive development for global tech firms. However, the future of Chinese product-specific tariffs and the potential for new tariff applications post-July remains uncertain, highlighting the need for continuous monitoring by affected businesses and stakeholders.

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