After every week of fears, uncertainty, and doubt, President Trump dropped a shock on Saturday that will likely be music to Tim Prepare dinner’s ears: All of Apple’s merchandise are exempt from the 125 % tariffs positioned this week on Chinese language imports. That follows a 90-day pause on tariffs on all different nations.
The exemption covers all kinds of tech merchandise, together with smartphones, laptops, laborious drives, and, processors, in addition to headphones and good audio system. That’s mainly every little thing Apple sells, with the potential exception of some equipment comparable to Apple Pencil and Magic Mouse. For now, evidently it is going to be enterprise as typical at Apple Park, with no rapid concern of rising costs.
Nonetheless, the state of affairs might change at any second. Simply this week, Trump raised tariffs, paused tariffs, threatened extra tariffs, took purpose at TSMC by threatening a one hundred pc tax, and exempted mainly something with a microchip. So Apple’s reprieve could also be short-term. Trump’s strikes have been unpredictable—together with Saturday’s exemption—so it’s unclear what might occur subsequent. For instance, a 20 % “fentanyl” tariff seemingly stays on China’s imports for all merchandise, and U.S. commerce secretary Howard Lutnick mentioned smartphones and different client electronics should be hit with separate tariffs. So, Trump might determine to levy additional tariffs or alter the listing of exempted merchandise.
However for now, the fears round value hikes, particularly with the iPhone 17 simply months away, have calmed.
