China responded to new trade guidance issued by U.S. Customs and Border Protection on Friday evening. The guidance excludes some of the highest-value goods—such as computers, chips, and smartphones—from reciprocal tariffs.
AFP News quoted a Chinese Commerce Ministry spokesperson, calling the updated guidance a “small step” toward correcting President Trump’s “wrong practice” of imposing 145% tariffs on Chinese goods. Beijing has hit back with 125% levies on U.S. goods in the deepening trade war that erupted last week.
“China is now evaluating the impact,” the ministry spokesperson said.
Update (1255 ET): As Trump adviser Stephen Miller points out, the products are still “subject to the tariff under the original IEEPA on China of 20 percent.”
The White House further clarified that the exemption (from the higher tariffs only) will be retroactive to April 5th, and all duties received since then will be refunded.
Any duties that were collected at or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on April 5, 2025, pursuant to Executive Order 14257 and the Subsequent Orders, on imports that are excepted under Executive Order 14257 and the Subsequent Orders because they are “semiconductors,” as explained in this memorandum, shall be refunded in accordance with U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s standard procedures for such refunds.