APPLENEWS - STORY ADD

Trump tariffs live updates: Trump says US and China are discussing a deal

Trump wouldn't say if he's talked to Chinese President Xi Jinping directly.

President Donald Trump revealed for the first time on Thursday that the United States is in talks with China on a tariff deal. Trump said a deal could be reached in the next three to four weeks.

Earlier Thursday, Trump met with Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni at the White House amid a tariff standoff with the European Union. The talks came a day after Trump met with Japanese officials and spoke with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.

Meanwhile, Trump is criticizing Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, saying his "termination cannot come fast enough" after Powell said he expects Trump's tariff policy to cause higher inflation and slower economic growth.


0

China says electronics exemption is a ‘small step’

China says the Trump administration’s exemptions for smartphones, laptops and other electronics is a “small step” in correcting a “wrong practice,” urging the U.S. to completely cancel Trump’s reciprocal tariffs.

"We urge the US … to take a big step to correct its mistakes, completely cancel the wrong practice of 'reciprocal tariffs' and return to the right path of mutual respect," China's Commerce Ministry said in a statement.

Beijing is now “evaluating the impact” of the exemption, the statement said.

Hedge fund billionaire and vocal Trump supporter Bill Ackman posted on X today: “The rift is healing. China ‘asks’ for relief from the tariffs creating an opening for a 90-day China tariff pause and negotiations.” Ackman had earlier in the week urged Trump to pause those reciprocal tariffs shortly before the president announced the pause, warning that businesses would go bankrupt.

But on Sunday afternoon, Trump posted on Truth Social that tariffs on these products are “just moving to a different Tariff ‘bucket.’”

“NOBODY is getting ‘off the hook’ for the unfair Trade Balances,” the president added. “Especially not China, which, by far, treats us the worst!”

-ABC News’ Selina Wang


Trump says tariff exemptions announced Friday aren't exceptions

Trump on Sunday said, “There was no Tariff ‘exemption’ announced on Friday" and that semiconductor tariffs will “just be moving to a different Tariff ‘bucket.’”

“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!” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform.

Trump’s top economic and trade aides made the same argument on Sunday talk shows: that smartphones, computers and other electronics were removed from the sweeping reciprocal tariffs the president announced on April 2 and will be part of a separate national security classification under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 Trump is to announce, they said.

“We are taking a look at Semiconductors and the WHOLE ELECTRONICS SUPPLY CHAIN in the upcoming National Security Tariff Investigations,” Trump wrote.

A bulletin posted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection late Friday night said the administration was exempting smartphones, computers, and other electronics from his reciprocal tariffs.

Trump did not push back Saturday night when a reporter asked for details on “exemptions.”

“I'll give you that answer on Monday. We’ll be very specific on Monday,” Trump said. “We're taking in a lot of money. As a country, we’re taking in a lot of money.”

-ABC News’ Fritz Farrow


White House responds to tech tariff exemptions

After the Trump administration announced tariff exemptions on key technology products, the White House is touting the investments that global tech companies have committed to making in the United States.

"President Trump has made it clear America cannot rely on China to manufacture critical technologies such as semiconductors, chips, smartphones, and laptops," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement to ABC News.

Leavitt claimed tech companies like Apple and Nvidia are making more investments in the U.S.

"At the direction of the President, these companies are hustling to onshore their manufacturing in the United States as soon as possible," she claimed, without providing more details.

A White House official told ABC News that the president has said autos, steel, pharmaceuticals, chips and other specific materials will be included in specific tariffs.

This means the relief for certain technology sectors could be short-lived.

Other tariffs also still apply to smartphones, laptops and other electronics announced in the exemption, as they only exempt those products from Trump's most recent tariffs. The administration had earlier imposed 20% fentanyl-related tariffs in February.

-ABC News' Selina Wang


Trump exempts phones, computers, chips from new tariffs

The Trump administration is exempting smartphones, computers, and other electronics from his reciprocal tariffs, according to a bulletin posted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection late Friday night.

The exemptions also include solar cells, flat panel TV displays, flash drives, computer processors, memory chips, semiconductor-based storage devices, and machines that are primarily used to make semiconductors.

Trump's total 145% tariffs on all goods from China was expected to hit tech companies like Apple, which relies on China to assemble the iPhone. UBS had estimated that the cost of the new iPhone16 Pro Max could jump by $950.

But the reprieve could be temporary. Trump has said he would impose tariffs on specific sectors, like semiconductor chips.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

-ABC News’ Selina Wang and Fritz Farrow