Just before we all dashed off for the weekend, the US Customs and Border Protection dropped some news that had tech lovers everywhere breathing a sigh of relief—temporary tariff exemptions on a bunch of our favorite gadgets. We’re talking smartphones, PCs, memory chips, and pretty much 80% of the tech that makes our daily lives bearable (or at least more entertaining). 😊
But before you start celebrating, hold your horses. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick was quick to point out that this is just a temporary breather. Sooner than you might like, these products will be swept up under the semiconductor sectoral tariffs. “Those products are going to be part of the semiconductor sectoral tariffs, which are coming,” Lutnick mentioned, sounding about as cheerful as someone announcing rain at a picnic.
For now, though, this means a lot of devices and components are dodging the 10% global tariff and even heftier China-specific charges. Lutnick says this temporary move is about keeping these items separate from reciprocal tariffs. But don’t get too cozy—those semiconductor tariffs are lurking, expected to make their debut in “probably a month or two.” Might want to think twice about that Switch 2 pre-order, huh?
Other Tech Highlights
- Ever wondered how to use the Apple Passwords app? Now’s your chance to find out.
- Dive into our Doctor Who The Robot Revolution review for some timey-wimey fun.
- And if you’re in the market for some new tunes, check out the best wireless headphones to drown out the world.
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