Recommended Free Tools
In April 2025, the Trump administration excluded smartphones in a specified customs classification from the new reciprocal tariffs—but not from every U.S. duty. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said the exclusion applied to qualifying entries from April 5, even though the presidential clarification identifying the products came on April 11. Later tariff actions changed the landscape, and the exact treatment in force today cannot be established from the actions summarized here.
What did the smartphone tariff carve-out do?
Executive Order 14257, issued April 2, 2025, established reciprocal tariffs and specified categories outside those rates. A presidential memorandum on April 11 clarified that certain electronics were excluded. CBP’s implementing guidance listed smartphones under HTSUS 8517.13.00 and applied the exclusion to qualifying goods entered for consumption or withdrawn from a warehouse on or after 12:01 a.m. EDT on April 5, 2025.
That was an exclusion from the reciprocal tariffs established under that order—not blanket immunity from existing duties or from later tariff actions. The exclusion was classification-based: a product’s tariff code mattered, so it does not establish that every electronic device received the same treatment.
When did the policy take effect?
| Date | Action | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| April 2, 2025 | Executive Order 14257 established reciprocal tariffs and listed categories outside those rates. | The order created the tariff framework later clarified for certain electronics. |
| April 5, 2025 | CBP’s guidance set this as the effective date for the listed product exclusions. | Qualifying entries from this date could receive the exclusion, although the clarification followed on April 11. |
| April 11, 2025 | A presidential memorandum clarified the tariff-code scope; CBP listed smartphones as HTSUS 8517.13.00. | The code and entry circumstances determined whether a smartphone qualified for this specific exclusion. |
| April 14, 2025 | The Associated Press reported that officials described the relief as temporary, noted other levies remained relevant, and discussed possible sector-specific tariffs. | Those were contemporaneous statements, not a guarantee of a later tariff or its timing. |
| September 5–8, 2025 | The White House announced revisions to reciprocal-tariff scope on September 5, effective September 8. | April’s treatment should not be assumed to describe later policy. |
| November 4, 2025 | A White House order suspended heightened reciprocal tariffs on imports from China through 12:01 a.m. EST on November 10, 2026. | The order also contemplated further action if commitments were not implemented. |
| February 20, 2026 | USTR’s presidential tariff-actions index listed an order titled “Ending Certain Tariff Actions.” | Its effect on the smartphone exclusion is not established here. |
Did Trump remove tariffs on iPhones and other Chinese phones?
The April 2025 action did not name Apple or promise that a particular phone would be free of tariffs. It covered qualifying goods in the listed classification under the reciprocal-tariff regime. Whether a specific phone or shipment qualified depended on its customs classification and entry circumstances; other duties could still apply.
#1 Best Overall
- Universal unlocked. Compatible with all major U.S. carriers, including Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and other prepaid carriers.
- Super-bright, super-smooth 6.7" display. See your screen clearly even outdoors in sunlight, and enjoy seamless views with a fast-refreshing 120Hz display.*
- AI-powered camera system. Take stunning photos in any light with the 50MP camera**, look your best with a 32MP selfie cam*****, and capture extreme close-ups.
- Superfast 5G performance. Unleash your entertainment at 5G speed*** with the MediaTek Dimensity 6300 chipset and up to 12GB of RAM with RAM Boost****.
- Long-lasting battery + TurboPower charging. Power through day after day with a 5200mAh battery, then get hours of power in just minutes.****
China was central to the issue because mobile phones were among the major imports from China covered by the 2025 reciprocal-tariff exclusion, according to the Congressional Research Service. The exclusion itself did not determine the full tariff treatment of Chinese phones under other authorities or later orders.
Did the carve-out make smartphones cheaper?
It cannot be treated as a consumer price cut. Removing one tariff may reduce a cost for qualifying imports, but the April action did not set retail prices or guarantee that any savings would reach buyers. Other levies remained relevant, and officials were discussing possible sector-specific measures at the time, according to AP.
Rank #2
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
AP, citing Cornell applied-economics professor Wendong Zhang, reported that smartphones, laptops, and components needed to make them accounted for nearly $174 billion in U.S. imports from China in 2024. That figure describes the scale of the import category, not a measured change in phone prices.
What should importers know about qualifying entries?
CBP said filers should correct qualifying entries as necessary within 10 days of cargo release from CBP custody. That was an entry-correction instruction, not the duration of the exclusion. Importers assessing a shipment need to verify its classification, the relevant entry or warehouse-withdrawal date, and the tariff instructions applicable to that entry.
Rank #3
- Charger NOT Included, 6.7" Super AMOLED FHD+, 90Hz Refresh Rate, 385 ppi, 800 nits (HBM), 1080x2340px, 5000mAh Battery
- 128GB, 4GB RAM, microSDXC, Exynos 1330 (5nm), Octa-Core, Mali-G68 MP2 or Mali-G57 MC2 GPU
- Rear Camera: 50MP, f/1.8 (wide) + 5MP, f/2.2 (ultrawide) + 2MP, f/2.4 (macro), LED flash, panorama, HDR; Front Camera: 13MP, f/2.0, Android 14, up to 6 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1
- 3G: HSDPA 850/900/1700(AWS)/1900/2100; 4G LTE: 1/2/3/4/5/7/12/13/14/20/25/26/28/29/30/38/39/40/41/48/66/71, 5G: 2/5/25/41/66/71/77/78 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - Nano-SIM + eSIM
- US Model – Global Connectivity – Compatible with Most GSM Carriers like T-Mobile, AT&T, MetroPCS, etc. Will Also work with CDMA Carriers Such as Verizon, Straight Talk.
What is the current smartphone tariff treatment?
As of October 8, 2026, the exact current tariff treatment is not established here. Later actions revised reciprocal-tariff policy, and the effect of the February 20, 2026 order titled “Ending Certain Tariff Actions” on smartphones remains unresolved. The November 2025 suspension described above was stated to run through November 10, 2026; it does not by itself answer what treatment applies after that date or under other tariff authorities. Before relying on the April 2025 exclusion for a current shipment, check the full later orders, current HTSUS chapter 99 notes, and CBP instructions.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Carrier: This phone is locked to Tracfone, which means this device can only be used on the Tracfone wireless network. Tracfone plan required, activating is easy, just 3 steps.
- DISPLAY: Immersive viewing on a 6.7-inch super-bright 120Hz display with powerful stereo speakers and Bass Boost for cinematic entertainment.
- CAMERA SYSTEM: Advanced 50MP Quad Pixel camera captures sharp, detailed photos and videos in any lighting condition
- PERFORMANCE: Lightning-fast 5G connectivity paired with a powerful processor and RAM Boost for smooth multitasking.
- BATTERY LIFE: Long-lasting 5000mAh battery with TurboPower charging technology delivers hours of power in minutes.
Rank #4
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
