April 17th, 2025 – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced that computers, smartphones, and other electronics will be temporarily exempt from some of the new reciprocal tariffs imposed by the Trump administration.
A CBP notice (CSMS # 64724565 – Updated Guidance – Reciprocal Tariff Exclusion for Specified Products; April 5th, 2025 Effective Date) released late Friday outlines 20 categories of electronic devices and components — including laptops, hard drives, memory chips, smartphones, and flat-panel monitors — that will not be subject to the 10% baseline tariff. The exemption applies to goods entering the U.S. or leaving bonded warehouses starting April 5th.
Temporary Relief for Tech Imports
Despite the current exemption, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick warned that the relief may be short-lived. In an interview with ABC News’ This Week, Lutnick said that “semiconductor-specific tariffs” are likely to be introduced in the coming weeks.
“We need to bring chip and electronics manufacturing back to the U.S.,” Lutnick said. “We can’t keep depending on Southeast Asia for everything from chips to displays.”
Tariff Turbulence Continues
The move provides temporary relief for importers and international shippers navigating escalating trade tensions, particularly between the U.S. and China. The Trump administration’s “reciprocal tariff” strategy went into effect April 2nd, applying:
- A 10% baseline tariff on goods from roughly 90 trade partners
- A 25% tariff on certain imported vehicles and auto parts
Shortly after implementation, President Trump paused the higher auto tariffs but kept the 10% baseline in place for most countries — excluding Canada and Mexico, which now face 25% tariffs.
Additionally, all imports from China were hit with a massive 145% tariff last week, prompting China to retaliate with 125% duties on U.S. goods. That 145% U.S. tariff was temporarily suspended for electronics under Friday’s CBP exemption, but a 20% tariff still remains on most Chinese products.
Where Things Stand Now
- Electronics (e.g., computers, chips, smartphones) are exempt from the 10% U.S. tariff (effective April 5)
- China tariffs remain at 20%, though higher rates have been paused
- Canada & Mexico face 25% tariffs under a separate executive order
- New semiconductor-specific tariffs are expected in the coming weeks
IMPORTANT NOTICE: On February 22, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) completed the migration of all ACE Secure Data Portal (ACE Portal) functionality to the modernized ACE Portal. Following the migration, CBP retired the legacy ACE Portal, and all ACE Portal functionality is now only available via the modernized platform. Any links/bookmarks previously used to access the ACE Portal should be removed and replaced with the following URL: ace.cbp.gov.
Trans-Border will continue to monitor the situation and advise customers accordingly. Should you have any questions, please contact our Import Compliance team or give us a call at 518-785-6000.
