The global tech market has been riding a rollercoaster of uncertainty ever since U.S. President Donald Trump introduced sweeping new tariffs this April, hitting nearly every major production hub around the world.
Starting on April 5th, the new tariff system kicked off with a 10% flat tax on imports from all countries, with China taking the biggest hit—a reciprocal tax of 54%, which later skyrocketed to 145%. This move sent U.S. consumers into a frenzy of iPhone panic buying, as they rushed to beat potential price hikes. However, there’s now a bit of a breather for Samsung Galaxy users.
Samsung, which produces most of its smartphones in Vietnam, found itself in a tight spot when the new rules slapped Vietnam with a 46% tariff. But, after a wave of pushback from over 75 countries, Trump paused the tariffs for most nations—except China—for 90 days, bringing the reciprocal rate down to 10%.
Here’s a snippet from the President’s official statement: “More than 75 Countries have called Representatives of the United States […] I have authorized a 90-day PAUSE and a substantially lowered Reciprocal Tariff during this period of 10%, also effective immediately.” – Donald Trump, President of the United States
In a surprising turn of events, Trump has now exempted key electronics from these tariffs—including smartphones, computers, and memory products. This means:
- Samsung Galaxy prices will stay put.
- Apple, Google, and other big tech brands also avoid price increases.
- The 10% flat rate still applies, but no extra spikes for now.
Some brands weren’t as lucky. OnePlus, for example, quietly bumped up the price of its Watch 3 from $329 to $499 after the tariffs kicked in. Now, with these exemptions, we might see those sudden price jumps get rolled back.
While this exemption offers some temporary relief, it’s still unclear how long it’ll last. The administration has hinted that the tariff relief for electronics could be reversed or revised pretty soon.
