The phone escaped! The latest US tariff exemption list is released, and technology stocks are relieved

The US-China trade war has escalated again, with President Trump imposing retaliatory tariffs of up to 145% on Chinese products, causing global market turmoil. However, the latest guidelines from the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have brought a glimmer of hope, with many tech products, including smartphones and computers, temporarily exempted from these tariffs, providing breathing room for tech giants like Apple.

Tech Products Temporarily Exempted, Apple the Biggest Winner?

According to guidelines published by US Customs on Friday night, the new tariff exemption covers multiple core tech products, including smartphones, computers, semiconductors, solar panels, LCD displays, USB flash drives, and memory cards. While these products may face additional taxation in the future, the tax rate is expected to be significantly lower than the current 145% set for Chinese goods.

For Apple, which primarily uses China as its production base, this is undoubtedly a timely relief. According to Evercore ISI data, China manufactures 80% of iPads and over half of Mac computers. If the tariff policy were fully implemented, the impact on Apple's operational costs and product prices would be substantial.

Experts: A Dream Scenario for Tech Investors

The tech research director at Wedbush Securities stated in an interview: "Excluding smartphones and chips is a game-changing move for the entire market." He added that these tariffs have been a persistent cloud over the tech industry, "No industry has been more affected than large tech companies."

He pointed out that the tech CEOs' vocal protests ultimately forced the White House to recognize the serious consequences of this policy. "If these tariffs were to be implemented, it would be an apocalypse for the tech industry."

iPhone Rises to $3,500? Market Loses Control

Since Trump announced the new round of tariffs, the stock market has been volatile, with Apple's market value evaporating by over $64 billion, severely impacting investor confidence. According to a CNBC report, if the 145% tariff were fully applied, the iPhone's price could surge to as high as $3,500.

The S&P 500 index dropped over 5% from the tariff announcement to Friday's closing. Simultaneously, the 10-year US Treasury yield surged by over 50 basis points in a week, creating a historically rare market fluctuation. These market shocks likely forced the White House to reconsider the policy, including implementing a 90-day tariff buffer for most countries and a universal 10% tax rate (excluding China).

Exemption Details: Applicable to Shipments from April 5

According to the latest guidelines, tech products manufactured, shipped, and exported on or after April 5, 2025, will be exempt from these tariffs. This regulation focuses on the shipping calculation time, not the customs declaration time, allowing US importers to better plan their financial and logistics strategies.

This is undoubtedly a positive development for the US tech industry supply chain, as importers are responsible for paying port tariffs, and without clear rules, it would cause greater market chaos.

While this tariff exemption provides temporary relief for Apple and other tech companies, the US-China trade situation remains unstable, with market sentiment still highly volatile. As the US enters an election year, whether Trump will further adjust his China policy remains a significant variable. Although the tech industry has momentarily breathed a sigh of relief, they must remain cautious about potential policy risks.