Featured Image Credit: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
Topics: Politics, Donald Trump
Anish Vij
Donald Trump has issued somewhat of a u-turn on what products will be exempt from tariffs amid the ongoing trade war with China.
The US President, 78, has put tariffs up to 145 percent on Chinese goods whilst announcing a 90-day tariff pause for most other countries. This includes a 10 percent baseline on most imports.
And then just last week (11 April), the US Customs and Border Protection looked to have revealed a long list of tech products that would be exempt from tariffs. This included products like smartphones, laptops and TVs.
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Tariff exemptions would have been welcomed by tech firms, such as Apple, who rely on China to manufacture a reported 80 percent of its products and 90 percent of their iPhones.
When talking to ABC News, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said such exemptions would only be temporary as they would be part of the tariffs yet to come 'in a month or two'.
However, Trump insisted last night (13 April) that 'nobody is getting off the hook' with tariff exemptions.
Taking to his social media platform, Truth Social, he wrote in a lengthy post that 'NOBODY is getting 'off the hook' for the unfair Trade Balances, and Non Monetary Tariff Barriers, that other Countries have used against us, especially not China which, by far, treats us the worst!'
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He explained that 'there was no tariff exception announced on Friday', as the products were 'just moving to a different Tariff bucket'.
"The Fake News knows this, but refuses to report it," Trump added.
"We are taking a look at Semiconductors and the WHOLE ELECTRONICS SUPPLY CHAIN in the upcoming National Security Tariff Investigations.
"What has been exposed is that we need to make products in the United States, and that we will not be held hostage by other Countries, especially hostile trading Nations like China, which will do everything within its power to disrespect the American People.
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"We also cannot let them continue to abuse us on Trade, like they have for decades, THOSE DAYS ARE OVER!"
The businessman promised to provide 'more and better paying jobs, making products in our nation, and treating other countries, in particular China, the same way they have treated us.'
This comes after Trump was asked in a press conference if he would consider putting the tariffs up if a deal wasn't met with other countries.
"Well, that's what would happen," he said. "I mean, if we can't make the deal that we want to make or we have to make or that's good for both parties - and it's got to be good for both parties - then we go back to where we were.
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"We'll have to see what happens at that time."
Meanwhile, China has raised tariffs on US goods to 125 percent after Chinese president Xi Jinping warned that 'there are no winners in a tariff war'.
During a recent broadcast, he said: “For more than 70 years, China has always relied on itself and hard work for development, never relying on favours from anyone, and not fearing any unreasonable suppression.”