Donald Trump says no exemptions for iPhones, other Chinese electronics; his annual physical results revealed
Donald Trump has again flip-flopped over tariff exemptions – this time Chinese electronics – as his annual physical examination results were made public.
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Australians are unlikely to feel the brunt of President Donald Trump’s escalating tariffs on Chinese-made technology — including iPhones, laptops, and smartwatches — according to a leading economist.
AMP chief economist Shane Oliver said that unlike in the US, Trump’s temporary exemption of electronics from a proposed 145 per cent tariff has likely averted a major price spike in Australia.
“But they will likely still be subject to some tariff at a later date,” he said, adding the move should have “no impact on prices in Australia” since the tariffs only apply to the US market.Many of Apple’s devices are manufactured or assembled in China, including Apple’s flagship iPhone — the most profitable consumer product in history. Of Apple’s USD$391 billion in annual revenue, half comes from iPhone sales.
And according to Counterpoint Research, around 80 per cent of iPhones sold in the US are made in China, with 20 per cent produced in India. Globally, about 70 per cent of the 1.4 billion iPhones in circulation are assembled in China.
Under Mr Trump’s controversial trade policy, China now faces a 145 per cent tariff on goods imported to the US, the highest rate hike in the broader trade crackdown.
While most countries receive a 90-day reprieve with a 10 per cent tariff, China has been hit hardest, with Beijing retaliating with its own 125 per cent tariff on US imports.
Mr Trump, posting on Truth Social, reiterated that no country would be “off the hook” for unfair trade practices.
Along with fellow smartphone giants such as Samsung, Apple has been trying to diversify its supply chains to avoid over-reliance on China in recent years.
Mr Oliver said while Apple could realistically shift its iPhone production away from China to avoid tariffs, that process would take years.
“Bringing the production back to the US will take years and result in a far more expensive iPhone, for example it could cost around $US2500 for the same phone because US labour costs are so much higher,” he said.
If Mr Trump reintroduces or expands tariffs, American consumers could see price hikes on products like iPhones almost immediately, depending on how quickly Apple passes on the added costs.
Pricing would also likely vary between countries, Mr Oliver said, reflecting differences in tax rates — much like the current variations driven by GST and other local levies.
“Given Australia is not imposing the tariffs here our prices should not go up,” he said.
“But we may benefit from other countries sending their products to Australia that might otherwise have gone to the US and this may push down some prices on consumer goods here, assuming its not offset by a weaker Australian dollar.”
Late last week, the White House issued temporary exemptions for key tech items such as smartphones, laptops, and memory chips.
However, Mr Trump clarified that these products remain subject to a 20 per cent tariff in a different “Tariff bucket,” signalling the relief is only a pause, not a permanent rollback.
The White House said the exemptions were strategic and intended to give companies time to shift manufacturing out of China.
“President Trump has made it clear America cannot rely on China to manufacture critical technologies such as semiconductors, chips, smartphones, and laptops,” said Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
“At the direction of the president, these companies are hustling to onshore their manufacturing in the United States as soon as possible.”
Apple has already begun ramping up production in India and Vietnam — two countries emerging as key alternatives to China in its global supply chain.
Despite this, the president remains optimistic about his trade strategy, referencing his relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping and suggesting “something positive” could come from the trade war.
The White House said Mr Trump would release “very specific” tariff details on Monday US time.
TRUMP’S ANNUAL PHYSICAL RESULTS
The results of Donald Trump’s first annual medical check-up since returning to the US presidency have revealed the 78-year-old is in “excellent health”.
It noted only a few abnormalities such as minor sun damage to Mr Trump’s skin, as well as scarring on his right ear from a gunshot wound after he was shot at in an assassination attempt last July.
“President Trump exhibits excellent cognitive and physical health and is fully fit to execute the duties of the Commander-in-Chief and Head of State,” read a physician’s letter shared by the White House.
Mr Trump told reporters on Friday that he felt “in very good shape” after his exam earlier that day at the Walter Reed military hospital in the Washington suburbs.
Trump has been accused of a lack of openness about his health despite huge interest in the wellbeing of America’s commander-in-chief.
The Republican has repeatedly boasted about his own vigour since starting a second term, while mocking his 82-year-old Democratic predecessor Joe Biden as decrepit and mentally unfit for office.
As promised on Friday, President Trump’s Annual Physical Examination Results: pic.twitter.com/skWfSRZ18N
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) April 13, 2025
TRUMP ADVISER MUSK CALLED A ‘MORON’ DENIES TENSION
Donald Trump’s trade adviser Peter Navarro has denied that there is tension between him and Elon Musk despite the Tesla billionaire publicly calling him a “moron.”
“Everything’s fine with Elon,” Navarro said on NBC News’ “Meet the Press” on Sunday adding with a laugh, “I’ve been called worse.”
The spat started after Navarro said Musk was “not a car manufacturer; he’s a car assembler.”
Navarro said Musk imports parts for the cars that Tesla makes from Japan, China and Taiwan.
“The difference is, in our thinking and Elon’s on this, is that we want the tyres made in Akron,” Navarro added in a CNBC interview. “We want the transmissions made in Indianapolis. We want the engines made in Flint and Saginaw. And we want the cars manufactured here.”
The comments prompted Musk to attack Navarro in a series of posts on X.
He first called Navarro a “moron” and added that Tesla “has the most American-made cars. Navarro is dumber than a sack of bricks.”
He continued with a sarcastic apology, saying the comparison was “so unfair to bricks.”
On Sunday, Navarro laughed off reports of tensions between him and Musk, telling “Meet the Press” moderator Kristen Welker: “Elon and I are agreeing. It’s not an issue.”
He also praised Musk’s work with the so-called Department of Government Efficiency.
INSIDE TRUMP’S ASTONISHING DEPORTATION PLAN
Donald Trump is planning the largest mass deportation in history with a bold plan to remove million immigrants from the US by the end of the year, and every year that follows.
The ambitious goal is being co-ordinated by White House adviser Stephen Miller and the Department of Homeland Security on a daily basis, according to the Washington Post.
Officials who spoke to the publication on the condition of anonymity said the Trump administration was not revealing how the numbers would be counted.
However, analysts say the number is unrealistic, if not impossible, given staffing levels and the fact that most immigrants have the right to have their case heard in court before they can be removed.
One potential strategy, according to officials, is to find a way to deport some of the 1.4 million people with final deportation orders but cannot be deported because their home countries won’t take them back. The administration is reportedly negotiating with about 30 countries to take immigrants who were not their citizens.
According to a court filing, the US government hopes to deport thousands of immigrants to these destinations.
White House spokesman Kush Desai did not respond directly to questions about the plan, but said in an email that the Trump administration promised voters it would repair Biden administration’s handling of border security.
The US has an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants, many with criminal records.
The one million target in a single year would be a record for the nation. So far, as the highest number was more than 400,000 a year when Barack Obama was president.
WRONGLY DEPORTED MAN IS ALIVE AND WELL
A father who was illegally deported from the US and detained at the anti-terrorism prison in El Salvador is alive, according to a filing by the US Justice Department.
Last week, the Supreme Court ruled the Trump administration had to facilitate Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s return to his home state of Maryland.
“It is my understanding based on official reporting from our Embassy in San Salvador that Abrego Garcia is currently being held in the Terrorism Confinement Center in El Salvador,” State Department official, Michael Kozak, said in a written declaration.
“He is alive and secure in that facility. He is detained pursuant to the sovereign, domestic authority of El Salvador.”
President Trump plans to meet with President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador on Monday.
In a post on social media platform Truth Social, Mr Trump thanked the president for housing some of “the most violent alien enemies of the world” in the mega-prison.
“Looking forward to seeing President Bukele, of El Salvador, on Monday! Our Nations are working closely together to eradicate terrorist organisations, and build a future of Prosperity. President Bukele has graciously accepted into his Nation’s custody some of the most violent alien enemies of the World and, in particular, the United States,” he wrote.
“These barbarians are now in the sole custody of El Salvador, a proud and sovereign Nation, and their future is up to President B and his Government. They will never threaten or menace our Citizens again!”
His post did not mention Abrego Garcia.
TRUMP VOWS TO END DAYLIGHT SAVINGS
Donald Trump has declared he wants to make a permanent year-round move to daylight savings time as America fiercely debates the issue which has also divided Australians.
This week the US Senate’s Commerce Committee has held a hearing cheekily titled If I Could Turn Back Time: Should We Lock the Clock? in an apparent tribute to the iconic Cher song.
Mr Trump posted to Truth Social making his feelings on the matter clear.
“The House and Senate should push hard for more Daylight at the end of a day,” Mr Trump said.
“Very popular and, most importantly, no more changing of the clocks, a big inconvenience and, for our government, A VERY COSTLY EVENT!!!”
In the US daylight saving time begins on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November.
Like in Australia, some states choose not to participate in daylight saving.
Hawaii and Arizona stay on standard time year round with the exception of the Navajo Nation – the self governing Native American nation within Arizona which does choose to observe the time change.
– with The New York Post and AFP
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