iPhones, Macs, and iPads Dodge Major Tariffs For Now — But AirPods Left Out
This means that iPhones, iPads, Macs, Apple Watch, and other major Apple products won’t be subject to the 125% tariffs that have been applied to Chinese goods, nor will they face the additional 10% reciprocal tariffs affecting goods from other countries. Apple won’t have to pay those fees for now, which helps keep product prices stable and production costs lower — at least for the time being.
A wide range of tech hardware has made the exemption list, including GPUs from Nvidia, semiconductors and their manufacturing equipment, SSDs, displays, and various types of televisions. However, some devices didn’t make the cut. Notably, AirPods and HomePods are still subject to tariffs, and so are video game consoles, which could affect pricing on future systems like the Nintendo Switch 2.
It’s worth noting that this exemption might not be permanent. As Bloomberg reports, the Trump administration could be planning to introduce a new, potentially lower set of tariffs on electronics and other imported goods. Additionally, this tariff waiver doesn’t eliminate the separate 20% “fentanyl fee” that was previously imposed on Chinese imports, so some costs will still hit companies like Apple, just not as heavily.
Between the shifting trade policies and a temporary 90-day tariff pause in some countries, Apple’s stock has had a rocky week. The company’s shares dropped over 20% before bouncing back slightly. As of market close yesterday, the stock was still down about 11% compared to early April.
While the tariff relief helps ease immediate pressure on Apple’s supply chain, the broader trade landscape remains uncertain. For now, though, Apple fans can breathe a little easier knowing their next iPhone or Mac isn’t about to get more expensive — unless you’re buying AirPods.
Source: MacRumors, Bloomberg
