Washington: U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration has exempted smartphones, computers, and several other electronic devices from a sweeping set of reciprocal tariffs, offering relief to South Korea’s Samsung Electronics Co., Apple Inc., and other global tech firms.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued a notice Saturday announcing the exemption of select electronics, such as smartphones, laptops, personal computers (PCs), servers, and semiconductor equipment, from the reciprocal tariffs, including the 125 percent levies imposed on Chinese imports. The exclusions are applied retroactively from April 5.

The decision is expected to ease concerns across the global tech industry about rising prices, as many of these products are manufactured in China. Initially, Trump had intended to implement steep reciprocal tariffs on most countries but announced a 90-day pause on the scheme last week. Instead, the U.S. has imposed a blanket global tariff of 10 percent.

For imports from China, the exemption applies only to the 125 percent reciprocal tariffs, while previous duties of 20 percent on all Chinese imports, which Trump said were related to the U.S. fentanyl crisis, will remain in effect. In a statement issued Saturday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized that President Trump has stressed the importance of not relying on China for the manufacturing of critical technologies like semiconductors, chips, smartphones, and laptops.

Major tech firms are reportedly working to move their manufacturing operations to the United States as swiftly as possible, reflecting the Trump administration’s push for onshore production. Additionally, Trump indicated that more information on semiconductor tariffs would be provided on Monday, as he addressed reporters aboard Air Force One. “I’ll give you that answer on Monday,” Trump said. “We’ll be very specific on Monday.”