Washington, D.C. – The relaxation of import tariffs on smartphones, laptops, and other electronic goods from China will be temporary, according to top US officials. President Donald Trump has made it clear that the exemption was short-lived, emphasizing that no one would be given a pass from tariffs.

On Sunday, Trump took to social media to address the issue, stating that the exempt products were not free from tariffs. Instead, they would simply be subject to different tariff rates. The President announced plans to conduct a national security trade investigation into the semiconductor sector and the entire electronics supply chain.

Despite the initial announcement of excluding certain electronic products from steep reciprocal tariffs with China, the White House signaled that this leniency would not last. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick confirmed that critical technology products from China would soon face new duties, including semiconductors within the next two months.

Lutnick revealed that Trump planned to impose a specific type of tariff on smartphones, computers, and other electronic products in the coming months, while also targeting semiconductors and pharmaceuticals with sectoral tariffs. These new duties, different from reciprocal tariffs, were aimed at boosting domestic production for items deemed crucial for national security.

The ongoing trade dispute between the US and China has led to escalating tensions, with both countries retaliating with increasing tariffs on each other’s imports. Trump’s fluctuating tariff policies have contributed to significant volatility in the stock market, with the S&P 500 index experiencing notable drops.

Critics, including Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren, have raised concerns over the impact of Trump’s tariff decisions on the economy. Meanwhile, China has responded to the US tariff moves by calling for a complete cancelation of the entire tariff strategy, labeling the exemption of some electronic products as merely a minor step.

As tensions persist, Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to embark on a tour of Southeast Asia, aiming to strengthen economic ties with neighboring countries in the midst of the trade war. The uncertainty surrounding tariffs continues to reverberate in the global economy, impacting various sectors and raising questions about the future of trade relations between the two economic powerhouses.