Trump will explain tariffs on electronics on Monday

The administration announced late Friday that some electronics were exempt.

Last Updated: April 13, 2025, 11:43 PM EDT

President Donald Trump on Sunday said there will be no exceptions for tariffs on electronics and that he would clarify his administration's policy on Monday.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced late Friday that some smartphones, computers, chips and other electronics would be exempted from tariffs, but Trump's top economic advisers hit the Sunday talk shows to explain the policy, saying that tariffs against electronics would be coming in the next month or two.

“There was no Tariff ‘exemption’ announced on Friday," Trump posted Sunday afternoon, and that semiconductor tariffs will “just be moving to a different Tariff ‘bucket.’”

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing.
Apr 11, 2025, 2:56 PM EDT

White House declines to explain Trump's optimism around China negotiations

During Friday's press briefing, the White House refused to explain President Donald Trump's optimism that he can cut a deal with China on tariffs despite ABC News' Mary Bruce pressing Karoline Leavitt multiple times about the negotiations -- or lack thereof.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, April 11, 2025, in Washington.
Will Oliver/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

"The President, as I said from the podium, just a few days ago when I was up here, would be gracious, if China intends to make a deal with the United States," Leavitt said. "If China continues to retaliate, it's not good for China and the United States of America is the strongest, best economy in the world, as evidenced by the more than 75 countries who have called the administration immediately to cut good deals."

When pressed again on what is making Trump optimistic, Leavitt sidestepped, only saying "he's optimistic," without explanation.

-ABC News' Michelle Stoddart and Molly Nagle

Apr 11, 2025, 1:33 PM EDT

Leavitt dodges questions on negotiations with Chinese government

ABC News's Mary Bruce asked White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt about the tariff situation with China and why President Donald Trump hasn't picked up the phone and negotiated directly.

Leavitt declined to respond.

Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, Apr. 11, 2025 and President Donald Trump in Washington, April 9, 2025.
AP/Getty Images

"I will leave it to that, our national security team to get these discussions underway," she said.

Apr 11, 2025, 9:53 AM EDT

Trump says US 'doing really well on our tariff policy'

In a new post on his media platform, President Donald Trump said that the U.S. is "doing really well on our TARIFF POLICY."

"Very exciting for America, and the World!!! It is moving along quickly," Trump said in Friday's post.

ABC News' Michelle Stoddart

President Donald J. Trump listens to remarks during a Cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington, April 10, 2025.
Shawn Thew/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Apr 11, 2025, 8:29 AM EDT

Trump not negotiating with China on tariffs 'at this point'

President Donald Trump said he's negotiating with other countries on tariffs, but China still isn't one of them.

When asked by ABC News if there are any negotiations with China as this trade war ramps up, U.S. Trade Rep. Jamieson Greer said, "not at this point."

China's Ministry of Finance announced Friday that Beijing will increase tariffs on all U.S. goods from 84% to 125%.

President Donald Trump speaks at a cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington, April 10, 2025.
Nathan Howard/Reuters

China raising its tariffs is the latest tit for tat with the two sides locked in a faceoff.

--ABC News' Rachel Scott

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