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Trump tariffs live updates: Trump says US and China are discussing a deal

Trump wouldn't say if he's talked to Chinese President Xi Jinping directly.

Last Updated: April 18, 2025, 5:31 PM EDT

President Donald Trump revealed for the first time on Thursday that the United States is in talks with China on a tariff deal. Trump said a deal could be reached in the next three to four weeks.

Earlier Thursday, Trump met with Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni at the White House amid a tariff standoff with the European Union. The talks came a day after Trump met with Japanese officials and spoke with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.

Meanwhile, Trump is criticizing Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, saying his "termination cannot come fast enough" after Powell said he expects Trump's tariff policy to cause higher inflation and slower economic growth.

Apr 12, 2025, 10:40 AM EDT

Trump exempts phones, computers, chips from new tariffs

The Trump administration is exempting smartphones, computers, and other electronics from his reciprocal tariffs, according to a bulletin posted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection late Friday night.

The exemptions also include solar cells, flat panel TV displays, flash drives, computer processors, memory chips, semiconductor-based storage devices, and machines that are primarily used to make semiconductors.

New iPhones are seen on display at the The Fifth Avenue Apple Store in New York, April 4, 2025.
Sarah Yenesel/EPA via Shutterstock

Trump's total 145% tariffs on all goods from China was expected to hit tech companies like Apple, which relies on China to assemble the iPhone. UBS had estimated that the cost of the new iPhone16 Pro Max could jump by $950.

But the reprieve could be temporary. Trump has said he would impose tariffs on specific sectors, like semiconductor chips.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

-ABC News’ Selina Wang and Fritz Farrow

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