Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick recently retracted a temporary reciprocal tariff exemption on select electronics previously announced by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. On April 13, Lutnick stated that the exemption was short-term, designed to last until the administration finalizes a sector tariff structure for semiconductors, encompassing products like phones and computing chips. He emphasized President Trump's commitment to maintaining tariffs on vital sectors, equating these decisions to national security, asserting that the U.S. must not rely on China for essential goods such as medicine and semiconductors. This focus on onshoring critical industries suggests that the current tariff strategy may serve as a long-term geostrategic policy rather than a mere negotiation tactic. Volatility in the markets persists, exacerbated by these tariff developments, which have previously caused substantial fluctuations in investor confidence and asset values.

Source đź”—