Yes — Apple did get an exemption from the steep tariffs on electronics that were being applied to Chinese-made goods.
In mid-April, the Trump administration announced a waiver for key electronics—including smartphones, computers, semiconductors, servers, MacBooks, iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watches—from the newly imposed reciprocal tariffs (previously totalling up to 145%). Electronics manufacturers including Apple, Dell, Nvidia, and others saw their tariff rate drop from ~45–145% down to around 20% .
Short-term, this means Apple avoided the sharp jump in prices for its devices—like iPhones jumping from ~$1,600 to over $2,300— and provided much-needed relief to both consumers and investors ().
However, it’s important to note that:
1. This exemption applies only to electronic goods, not to categories like apparel, footwear, etc.
2. It appears to be temporary—Commerce Secretary Lutnick and others have indicated that the administration could reassess and potentially remove or modify the exemption in the future under upcoming tariff reviews .
3. Within a few days, President Trump even emphasized there was “no tariff exception” and that the matter would be reevaluated .
⸻
🧭 Bottom line
• Yes, Apple secured a tariff exemption on its Chinese-made electronics in April 2025.
• It reduced the effective tariff rate but didn’t eliminate it fully.
• The exemption is currently in effect — but it’s subject to change as policy evolves.
Would you like a breakdown of how this might impact Apple’s pricing, supply chain, or broader consumer electronics market dynamics?
Apple should do like the phone companies do on their bills - specifically itemize the amount we are paying due to tariffs so it's clear how much this administration is screwing us over.
Ok, let's stop with the reply spam. Everyone is talking in circles. Unless there's something new to add, don't bother. This thread has been derailed enough.
Is the new tariff rate a reciprocal tariff? If so, most Apple products, including all you mentioned will still be exempt. This question must be answered before penning any speculative headline about the impact of the trade agreement .
Throughout this whole trade war debacle, it's pretty clear old Donnie boy knows nothing about economics, something he majored in college!
Maybe Wharton should look into revoking his degree, because clearly he didn't learn a damn thing!
This is an amazing deal from America. Please look again
So you like paying higher taxes? Got it.
Or maybe you could buy that Trump 1 golden turd as your next phone, which is made in the USA and therefore, not subject to tariffs. What was that? Oh right....j/k
Also, nice try at gaslighting the entire AppleInsider community today.
Is the new tariff rate a reciprocal tariff? If so, most Apple products, including all you mentioned will still be exempt. This question must be answered before penning any speculative headline about the impact of the trade agreement .
None of the tariffs are reciprocal, to be fair. But that's what the admin called them on "Liberation Day." Also, exempt? Nope. The initial exemption was downstream only and didn't apply to any new tariffs levied after the order. A lot has changed since then anyway.
These are the newly agreed upon tariffs via the deal Trump made. So, no longer temporary adjustments meant to push countries into deals, but the one that will remain in place. It is fully applicable to Apple's products until a specific exemption is announced, if one ever is (which it won't be).
I say apple could easily build the Mac Mini in the US with robotics doing the majority of the work. This would avoid tariffs. Trump is trying to rebuild manufacturing in the US. The Mac Mini would be an easy place for Apple to start manufacturing products in the US.
I say apple could easily build the Mac Mini in the US with robotics doing the majority of the work. This would avoid tariffs. Trump is trying to rebuild manufacturing in the US. The Mac Mini would be an easy place for Apple to start manufacturing products in the US.
Except that every single part that goes into the Mac mini (perhaps with a few minor exceptions) is imported and subject to tariffs. Besides, Mac Minis are a trivial part of the Apple product portfolio. Building a factory in the US to make them here would be a waste of time and money; hopefully by the end of January 2029, we will have a new president who cuts these taxes, When that happens, firms that on-shored production will regret it.
New Vietnam trade deal means AppleAmerican consumers will pay at least five times more in tariffs.
Fixed the title.
The headline is correct. Apple is the importer; Apple pays the tariffs. They will almost certainly pass all or most of that onto us in the form of higher prices, but technically Apple pays the tariffs.
Trump said the United States will charge a 20% tariff for Vietnamese exports into America, and a 40% tariff for “transshipping.” US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said in a post on X Wednesday afternoon the “transshipping” tariff means “if another country sells their content through products exported by Vietnam to us — they’ll get hit with a 40% tariff.”
The 20% tariff is double the current minimum tariff rate the US is charging on goods from Vietnam and virtually every other country.
“In return, Vietnam will do something that they have never done before, give the United States of America TOTAL ACCESS to their Markets for Trade,” he added. “In other words, they will ‘OPEN THEIR MARKET TO THE UNITED STATES,’ meaning that, we will be able to sell our product into Vietnam at ZERO Tariff.”
I assume this only applies to those devices in the list sold in the US not those bought in the rest of the world. Given that the US is about 40% of Apple revenue (mostly iPhones and Mac’s), the impact of this on Apple will be meaningful but surely not very significant? The impact on US consumers will be precisely what they voted for?
There has been discussion that Apple will dilute the impact to the US consumer by raising prices worldwide. So, I guess the answer to your question is "it remains to be seen."
They can try. The consumer doesn’t have to go along with it.
0 percent for US companies into Vietnam is incredible
The fact Vietnam is wiling to agree to this show the ominous power of America
It shows that the demand for US imports is so negligible that it doesn't matter.
No, these countries all had trade barriers on US goods
Did you know that Australia does not allow US beef because they say it’s poisonous due to poor US ranchers techniques ? Are you dead from eating UA beef? I am not.
Europe did same to American chickens .
That is why US export numbers so low and what Trump trying to fix
From personal experience, US chicken smells funny.
No, these countries all had trade barriers on US goods
Did you know that Australia does not allow US beef because they say it’s poisonous due to poor US ranchers techniques ? Are you dead from eating UA beef? I am not.
Europe did same to American chickens .
That is why US export numbers so low and what Trump trying to fix
From personal experience, US chicken smells funny.
The smell is due to US doing acid washes of chicken (used to be chlorination). It is a way of compensating for poor hygiene standards. In general US food standards are good and on fresh dairy products the US standards are higher than EU. But for chicken and food additives US standards are driven by the industry.
On beef the problem is the US use of drugs/hormones in some products. There is a massive zero-tariff quota for clean US beef with USDA helping farmers. Stop complaining and start producing something people want to buy. Tesla showed that Europeans are ready to buy US cars. US wine makers are doing fine (or used to). It really is all about the product.
Is the new tariff rate a reciprocal tariff? If so, most Apple products, including all you mentioned will still be exempt. This question must be answered before penning any speculative headline about the impact of the trade agreement .
No.
This is the deal post "reciprocal" tariffs. There was no "exemption" for Apple products, just a rate that was a bit less than hugely higher than Apple was paying before April.
Sorry, man. The headline isn't speculative. Five times is also in favor of the president, as Apple paid zero from Vietnam before April on some stuff.
Here. Let me draw an analogy for you. Apple got stabbed by the tariffs. Trump pulled the six-inch knife out two inches, and told them that they were getting such a good deal. That's what the Vietnam tariffs are, and what any deal with the Chinese will be too.
Trump said the United States will charge a 20% tariff for Vietnamese exports into America, and a 40% tariff for “transshipping.” US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said in a post on X Wednesday afternoon the “transshipping” tariff means “if another country sells their content through products exported by Vietnam to us — they’ll get hit with a 40% tariff.”
The 20% tariff is double the current minimum tariff rate the US is charging on goods from Vietnam and virtually every other country.
“In return, Vietnam will do something that they have never done before, give the United States of America TOTAL ACCESS to their Markets for Trade,” he added. “In other words, they will ‘OPEN THEIR MARKET TO THE UNITED STATES,’ meaning that, we will be able to sell our product into Vietnam at ZERO Tariff.”
Lol. We're an Apple site. Apple will pay at least five times more to import from Vietnam. I also don't sell goods into Vietnam.
It is so bafflingly easy to argue against this. It is POTUS trying to obfuscate consumer price rises that will come after existing stocks run out by saying that the exporting country pays, and they do not. It is a misguided effort to return manufacturing to the US without investing in the education that will be needed to provide it, or the anti-inflationary measures that will be required so US consumers will stomach the vast hike in labor costs to manufacture in the US.
When he says that maybe kids should have two dolls instead of 30, that's a sign that he knows that consumer prices will rise, and not by a little. Just more lies.
It's all another case of the middle class being used as a money piñata for the 1%. That's why I'm against it. Even beyond Apple. this will raise prices for the middle class and put more money into the pockets of the rich.
Cook himself said that Apple will take almost a $1 billion hit in the quarter because of this. This isn't even the iPhone 17 quarter.
Besides the headline rate numbers, The fact Vietnam was willing to open up their entire market with no trade barriers is a huge deal for US farmers . This is an amazing deal. You are
Right, different countries have different situations, but if this is framework . HOLY 💩🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
In 2024, Vietnam imported about $13 billion dollars worth of goods to the United States. In the scope of the roughly $3.17 trillion worth of US exports, that represents .41% of US imports. In other words, it's almost a rounding error.
The impact on US consumers will be precisely what they voted for?
I'm not clear that you are asking a question or making a statement. The reality, imo, is that people vote for candidates for any number of reasons. Different voters have different sets of reasons that matter to them. It's an over generalization to claim that every one those who cast a vote for the candidate who won were supportive of every possible action or outcome that could occur once the candidate is in office. To claim that everyone who voted for the current president supports everything he does is absolute nonsense. Why would anyone in their right mind support the blatant and massive grifting that's been happening in plain site? It serves no purpose for the voters. Deep pocket donors who get a big government contract or a big tax break, maybe.
What is not nonsense is that very many people from all political alliances are going to suffer under the policies of the current administration when the policies are misguided, tainted by the president's personal desire for self enrichment, or given a rubber stamp approval by the the "thruple" of concentrated power that now exists. Nowhere in the current alignment of power is there a concern for people and businesses who have to make hard choices about what they can or cannot afford to purchase or support. If Apple's costs increase for any reason, Apple's product prices will increase as well. Shareholders expect returns on their financial investments. Apple can't pull off the shady shrinkflation strategies that are so rampant in other parts of the consumer market. They can't reduce the number of cores in their processors or shrink the size of the MacBook Pro's screen and then try to convince you that it's the same product. No "fun size" iPhones for me.
Trump said the United States will charge a 20% tariff for Vietnamese exports into America, and a 40% tariff for “transshipping.” US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said in a post on X Wednesday afternoon the “transshipping” tariff means “if another country sells their content through products exported by Vietnam to us — they’ll get hit with a 40% tariff.”
The 20% tariff is double the current minimum tariff rate the US is charging on goods from Vietnam and virtually every other country.
“In return, Vietnam will do something that they have never done before, give the United States of America TOTAL ACCESS to their Markets for Trade,” he added. “In other words, they will ‘OPEN THEIR MARKET TO THE UNITED STATES,’ meaning that, we will be able to sell our product into Vietnam at ZERO Tariff.”
Trump said the United States will charge a 20% tariff for Vietnamese exports into America, and a 40% tariff for “transshipping.” US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said in a post on X Wednesday afternoon the “transshipping” tariff means “if another country sells their content through products exported by Vietnam to us — they’ll get hit with a 40% tariff.”
The 20% tariff is double the current minimum tariff rate the US is charging on goods from Vietnam and virtually every other country.
“In return, Vietnam will do something that they have never done before, give the United States of America TOTAL ACCESS to their Markets for Trade,” he added. “In other words, they will ‘OPEN THEIR MARKET TO THE UNITED STATES,’ meaning that, we will be able to sell our product into Vietnam at ZERO Tariff.”
Comments
Yes — Apple did get an exemption from the steep tariffs on electronics that were being applied to Chinese-made goods.
In mid-April, the Trump administration announced a waiver for key electronics—including smartphones, computers, semiconductors, servers, MacBooks, iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watches—from the newly imposed reciprocal tariffs (previously totalling up to 145%). Electronics manufacturers including Apple, Dell, Nvidia, and others saw their tariff rate drop from ~45–145% down to around 20% .
Short-term, this means Apple avoided the sharp jump in prices for its devices—like iPhones jumping from ~$1,600 to over $2,300— and provided much-needed relief to both consumers and investors ().
However, it’s important to note that:
1. This exemption applies only to electronic goods, not to categories like apparel, footwear, etc.
2. It appears to be temporary—Commerce Secretary Lutnick and others have indicated that the administration could reassess and potentially remove or modify the exemption in the future under upcoming tariff reviews .
3. Within a few days, President Trump even emphasized there was “no tariff exception” and that the matter would be reevaluated .
⸻
🧭 Bottom line
• Yes, Apple secured a tariff exemption on its Chinese-made electronics in April 2025.
• It reduced the effective tariff rate but didn’t eliminate it fully.
• The exemption is currently in effect — but it’s subject to change as policy evolves.
Would you like a breakdown of how this might impact Apple’s pricing, supply chain, or broader consumer electronics market dynamics?
Fixed the title.
Or maybe you could buy that Trump 1 golden turd as your next phone, which is made in the USA and therefore, not subject to tariffs. What was that? Oh right....j/k
Also, nice try at gaslighting the entire AppleInsider community today.
These are the newly agreed upon tariffs via the deal Trump made. So, no longer temporary adjustments meant to push countries into deals, but the one that will remain in place. It is fully applicable to Apple's products until a specific exemption is announced, if one ever is (which it won't be).
The headline is correct. Apple is the importer; Apple pays the tariffs. They will almost certainly pass all or most of that onto us in the form of higher prices, but technically Apple pays the tariffs.
Trump said the United States will charge a 20% tariff for Vietnamese exports into America, and a 40% tariff for “transshipping.” US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said in a post on X Wednesday afternoon the “transshipping” tariff means “if another country sells their content through products exported by Vietnam to us — they’ll get hit with a 40% tariff.”
The 20% tariff is double the current minimum tariff rate the US is charging on goods from Vietnam and virtually every other country.
“In return, Vietnam will do something that they have never done before, give the United States of America TOTAL ACCESS to their Markets for Trade,” he added. “In other words, they will ‘OPEN THEIR MARKET TO THE UNITED STATES,’ meaning that, we will be able to sell our product into Vietnam at ZERO Tariff.”https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2025/07/02/business/trade-deal-vietnam-trump
https://fox59.com/business/ap-business/ap-president-trump-announces-trade-deal-with-vietnam-that-will-let-us-goods-into-the-country-duty-free/amp/
The smell is due to US doing acid washes of chicken (used to be chlorination). It is a way of compensating for poor hygiene standards. In general US food standards are good and on fresh dairy products the US standards are higher than EU. But for chicken and food additives US standards are driven by the industry.
On beef the problem is the US use of drugs/hormones in some products. There is a massive zero-tariff quota for clean US beef with USDA helping farmers. Stop complaining and start producing something people want to buy. Tesla showed that Europeans are ready to buy US cars. US wine makers are doing fine (or used to). It really is all about the product.
This is the deal post "reciprocal" tariffs. There was no "exemption" for Apple products, just a rate that was a bit less than hugely higher than Apple was paying before April.
Lol. We're an Apple site. Apple will pay at least five times more to import from Vietnam. I also don't sell goods into Vietnam.
What is not nonsense is that very many people from all political alliances are going to suffer under the policies of the current administration when the policies are misguided, tainted by the president's personal desire for self enrichment, or given a rubber stamp approval by the the "thruple" of concentrated power that now exists. Nowhere in the current alignment of power is there a concern for people and businesses who have to make hard choices about what they can or cannot afford to purchase or support. If Apple's costs increase for any reason, Apple's product prices will increase as well. Shareholders expect returns on their financial investments. Apple can't pull off the shady shrinkflation strategies that are so rampant in other parts of the consumer market. They can't reduce the number of cores in their processors or shrink the size of the MacBook Pro's screen and then try to convince you that it's the same product. No "fun size" iPhones for me.