For China's electronics firms, US tariff exemptions offer more confusion than relief

South China Morning Post

14-04-2025

Washington's plans to exempt some electronic devices from its 125 per cent so-called 'reciprocal' tariffs has provided a glimpse of hope for Chinese suppliers serving major US multinationals such as Apple and Tesla, but the road ahead for China's vast electronics sector still appears tough, analysts and industry insiders say.
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Many smaller Chinese electronics firms will not be covered by the exemptions – and the administration of US President Donald Trump is now adding further uncertainty by warning it plans to roll out new 'sectoral tariffs' targeting the industry.
The latest moves have left many in China bewildered and frustrated as they search for a way forward amid the wild policy swings coming from across the Pacific.
'It's so arbitrary,' said Chen Zhiwu, a chair professor of finance at the University of Hong Kong. 'Who knows why they came out with this exemption list so quickly? Who knows how long the 145 per cent tariffs may hold?'
The US announced late on Friday that it will
exempt a series of electronic products from its sky-high tariffs targeting Chinese goods, including smartphones, computers, hard drives, memory chips and semiconductor manufacturing equipment.
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The move appeared to be a recognition of China's indispensable role in the global supply chain for many hi-tech products, analysts said. China supplied over 70 per cent of the PC monitors and smartphones, and 66 per cent of the laptops imported into the US in 2024, according to figures from the US International Trade Commission.