China called on the United States to fully revoke its “reciprocal tariffs,” following Washington’s decision to exempt certain consumer electronics and key chipmaking equipment from the levies.
“We urge the U.S. to take significant steps to correct its mistakes, completely cancel the wrongful practice of ‘reciprocal tariffs,’ and return to the path of mutual respect,” a spokesperson from China’s Ministry of Commerce said in a statement.
The call came after a notice from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection office late Friday announced that products such as smartphones, laptops, memory chips, and other electronics would be excluded from the global tariffs introduced by President Donald Trump earlier this month.
China’s Commerce Ministry responded by labeling the exemptions as merely a “small step,” adding that it was still assessing the impact of the move.
The announcement coincided with the enforcement of China’s retaliatory tariffs of up to 125% on U.S. imports, which took effect on Saturday, underscoring Beijing’s firm stance in the escalating trade conflict with its largest trading partner.
The limited exemptions are expected to benefit major U.S. tech firms, including Nvidia, Dell, and Apple—the latter of which manufactures iPhones and other flagship products in China.
Despite the latest carve-outs, the majority of Chinese exports to the U.S. remain subject to a steep 145% tariff, as China was excluded from a broader 90-day reprieve.
