Smartphones and laptops among items excluded from reciprocal tariffs, US says

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Electronics such as smartphones and laptops will be excluded from reciprocal tariffs, the Trump administration has said.

US Customs and Border Protection listed 20 product categories in a notice to shippers, including the very broad 8471 code for all computers, laptops, disc drives and automatic data processing.

It added that semiconductor devices and equipment, memory chips and flat panel displays would also be exempt.

The move could help keep prices down for popular consumer items that are mainly produced in East Asian countries and China, which is the country hardest hit by Donald Trump's tariffs.

Tech firms, including Apple, Samsung and Nvidia, have struggled in the stock market since the levies were first announced.

Earlier this week, the head of the trading floor at Currencies 4 You told Newspage that Mr Trump's tariffs on Chinese imports "could significantly impact iPhone pricing globally".

Prem Raja noted that analysts suggested "US prices might surge by up to 43% if Apple passes on the costs" to consumers.

The US and China have been locked in an escalating trade dispute since the start of the month, as both countries ratcheted up tariffs on imports.

After Mr Trump announced a 34% levy on China on "Liberation Day," Beijing responded by introducing tariffs of the same rate on American imports.

The US president then added another 50% tariff atop the 34% and warned China not to retaliate. In turn, Chinese officials called the tariffs "bullying" and raised levies again to 84%.

Mr Trump then raised levies on most Chinese goods to 145% as he paused tariffs higher than 10% for 90 days, prompting Beijing to raise their US import rates to 125%.

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