After every week of fears, uncertainty, and doubt, President Trump dropped a shock on Saturday that might be music to Tim Prepare dinner’s ears: All of Apple’s merchandise are exempt from the 125 % tariffs positioned this week on Chinese language imports. That follows a 90-day pause on tariffs on all different international locations.
The exemption covers all kinds of tech merchandise, together with smartphones, laptops, arduous drives, and, processors, in addition to headphones and sensible audio system. That’s principally all the things Apple sells, with the potential exception of some equipment comparable to Apple Pencil and Magic Mouse. For now, evidently it will likely be enterprise as normal at Apple Park, with no instant concern of rising costs.
Nonetheless, the state of affairs may change at any second. Simply this week, Trump raised tariffs, paused tariffs, threatened extra tariffs, took intention at TSMC by threatening a one hundred pc tax, and exempted principally something with a microchip. So Apple’s reprieve could also be non permanent. Trump’s strikes have been unpredictable—together with Saturday’s exemption—so it’s unclear what may occur subsequent. For instance, a 20 % “fentanyl” tariff seemingly stays on China’s imports for all merchandise, and U.S. commerce secretary Howard Lutnick stated smartphones and different client electronics should be hit with separate tariffs. So, Trump may determine to levy additional tariffs or alter the checklist of exempted merchandise.
However for now, the fears round value hikes, particularly with the iPhone 17 simply months away, have calmed.
