Trump will explain tariffs on electronics on Monday

The administration announced late Friday that some electronics were exempt.

Last Updated: April 13, 2025, 11:43 PM EDT

President Donald Trump on Sunday said there will be no exceptions for tariffs on electronics and that he would clarify his administration's policy on Monday.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced late Friday that some smartphones, computers, chips and other electronics would be exempted from tariffs, but Trump's top economic advisers hit the Sunday talk shows to explain the policy, saying that tariffs against electronics would be coming in the next month or two.

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

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing.
Apr 09, 2025, 1:36 PM EDT

Trump announces 90-day pause on most reciprocal tariffs while bumping China rate to 125%

President Donald Trump announced on his social media platform that he authorized a pause on most of the higher tariff rates he unveiled last week for 90 days.

"There will be a 90-day pause on the reciprocal tariffs as these negotiations are ongoing, and the tariff level will be brought down to a universal 10% tariff," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters after Trump's post.

This does not apply to China, which Trump says is now subject to a 125% tariff rate following their retaliatory tariff announced earlier Wednesday.

"Based on the lack of respect that China has shown to the World's Markets, I am hereby raising the Tariff charged to China by the United States of America to 125%, effective immediately," Trump wrote.

Traders work on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, April 9, 2025.
Brendan Mcdermid/Reuters

-ABC News' Michelle Stoddart

Apr 09, 2025, 1:08 PM EDT

'What's the president thinking?' Democrat blasts Trump tariffs

Democratic Rep. Brad Schneider, at Wednesday's Ways and Means Committee hearing with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, slammed Trump's tariffs as he cited reports of its impacts, including economists increasing their odds of a recession.

"I'm going to say what I think almost everyone is thinking. WTF. What's the president thinking? What did he and you think was going to happen after unilaterally declaring a global trade war? Did you expect the so-called 'Liberation Day' to become liquidation week, destroying more than $10 trillion of value and moving us from an extended bull market into a self-induced bear?" Schneider said.

"Did you intentionally plan to decimate American's retirement accounts and 529 accounts for their kids education? Did you and the president anticipate raising prices for American families already struggling to make ends meet? Did you mean to make American businesses less, not more competitive in global markets?" he continued.

Apr 09, 2025, 12:30 PM EDT

Illinois Republican expresses concerns about tariff impact for farmers

Rep. Darin LaHood, an Illinois Republican, expressed concerns about the impact of President Donald Trump's tariffs on farmers and the agriculture industry.

"As I talk to my farmers, there's a lot of anxiety, a lot of stress, a lot of uncertainty because when we get into a trade war, usually the first pawn in the trade war is agriculture," LaHood told U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. "And as we look at the timeline and chronology moving forward, Ambassador Greer, what would you tell my farmers in terms of that uncertainty and anxiety that they're feeling right now?"

Greer did not answer directly, instead saying not all countries have said they will retaliate against the U.S.

-ABC News' Fritz Farrow

Apr 09, 2025, 12:28 PM EDT

Trade Rep. Greer says he'd recuse himself from any conflicts involving special counsel's office

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer confirmed on Wednesday that he is also serving as the acting head of the Office of the Special Counsel, an independent investigatory agency that is partly tasked with protecting whistleblowers.

Democratic Rep. Linda Sanchez pressed Greer during Wednesday's Ways and Means Committee hearing on whether holding both roles represented a conflict of interest.

"Well, I certainly would recuse myself if there was an issue involving me or my agency," Greer said.

Trade Representative Jamieson Greer testifies before the House Ways and Means Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, April 9, 2025.
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