Mutation, denying tariff exemption, tariffs for such goods are coming again

mutation! The United States' "tariff stick" is still waving randomly! Regarding the incident that US Customs exempted "reciprocal tariffs" for some electronic products last weekend, US President Trump said on the 13th local time,There was no "exception" of tariffs announced last Friday, and related products were only transferred to other tariff categories.Trump suggests,The U.S. government may still impose additional tariffs on the semiconductor industry and the broader electronics supply chain.

Trump stressed: "In the upcoming national security tariff investigation, we will focus on semiconductors and the entire electronic product supply chain." On the same day, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnik also said thatAlthough smartphones, computers and other electronic products are not subject to "reciprocal tariffs", they have been included in the scope of semiconductor tariffs, and the relevant tariffs are expected to be issued within one or two months.

On the afternoon of April 13 local time, Trump reiterated in response to the news of "tariff exemption" on his social media platform,No country can evade tariff sanctions, and no ‘tariff exemptions were announced last Friday, they were just classified into different tariff categories.

He further stated: "In the upcoming national security tariff investigation, we will continue to impose tariffs on the semiconductor industry and the broader electronics supply chain. We must promote the production of products in the United States. The golden age of the United States is approaching, including tax cuts and regulatory reductions, with some policies approved by the House and Senate, which will bring more high-paying jobs and drive domestic manufacturing."

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection issued an announcement last Friday, removing a series of products from the "peer-to-peer tariff" list, including communication devices (smartphones), computers, semiconductor devices, integrated circuit devices, etc. Trump pointed out:"Tariffs will be implemented in the near future. As we have done with steel, automobiles, aluminum, now we will do the same with semiconductors, chips and many other products. This will happen in the near future."

Trump explained that his goal is to inspire companies to produce products locally in the United States. However, experts warn that the process could be long and electronics prices could rise. When asked whether specific products such as iPhones and tablets would be subject to tariffs, Trump said he would discuss them with businesses.

"We have to maintain a certain degree of flexibility. No one should be too stubborn. We are moving in the right direction. Fiscally, our country will be stronger than ever." Trump, however, did not disclose which products this flexibility might apply to. Trump and other administration officials have previously stated that the above exemptions are only temporary measures and related products will be affected by the upcoming semiconductor tariffs.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnik further explained: "The measures taken by President Trump are that although these products are not subject to reciprocity tariffs, they have been included in the scope of semiconductor tariffs, and the relevant tariffs are expected to be introduced within one or two months. These measures will be implemented soon and should not be regarded as an anomaly, but part of semiconductor tariffs."

On the 13th local time, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnik once again emphasized that the U.S. government's measures to exempt a series of "peer-to-peer tariffs" from electronic devices on the evening of the 11th are only temporary measures, and these products will be subject to "semiconductor tariffs", and the tariffs are expected to be implemented "within one or two months."

"All of these electronic products will be included in the semiconductor tariffs and have special key tariffs to ensure that these products are resold. We need semiconductors, chips and tablets - we need to make these products locally in the United States."

Lutnik also revealed that the White House will implement a "tariff model" to encourage the semiconductor and pharmaceutical industries to transfer their businesses to the United States. He stressed: "We cannot rely on foreign imports, and the exemption of these electronic products is not permanent. President Trump is just clarifying that these are not issues that countries can resolve through negotiations. These measures are about national security and we need to make these products locally in the United States."

According to Lutnik, exempted devices such as smartphones, computers, routers and other electronic products may be included in the scope of Trump's upcoming tariffs on semiconductors. He stressed that imposing tariffs on semiconductors is part of the effort to bring the manufacturing of these electronic products back to the United States.

On the same day, U.S. Trade Representative Jamison Greer also said that although the executive order signed by Trump on the exemptions was titled "Clarification of Exceptions", the exemptions were "not real exceptions." "The reality is that the supply chain of these products has shifted from global tariffs and ‘reciprocal tariff systems to national security tariff systems," Greer noted.

Kevin Hassett, director of the U.S. National Economic Commission, said that the U.S. government is launching an investigation into semiconductors under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. The clause allows the president to restrict imports of products deemed crucial to U.S. national security after an investigation. "Semiconductors are a key component of many defense equipment. We will look at these issues carefully and make decisions about which products must be made at home," Hassett stressed.

Rui Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Fund, the world's largest hedge fund, harshly criticized the "reciprocal tariff" policy on the 13th, saying that the United States is on the verge of an economic recession and may even face a worse situation.

Dalio said in an interview that the "trade war" initiated by Trump may trigger an economic recession. "I think we are on a critical decision point, very close to the brink of a recession. I'm worried that if this problem is not handled properly, it could be a worse situation than a recession," he warned.