Brace Yourself for Jeff Bezos' "Amazon Helios"

Amazon delivers 20 million packages a day... powers some of the most popular websites... delivers medication to half of the U.S. population... and even produces award-winning films and TV shows. But a Wall Street legend -- twice featured on 60 Minutes -- predicts that "Amazon Helios" will be bigger than all of those... COMBINED.

Confusion reigns after Trump exempts electronics from new tariff regime. Here's what we know

WYATTE GRANTHAM-PHILIPS
April 14, 2025

Confusion over President Donald Trump's tariffs remains following a weekend of questions around trade in consumer electronics.

On Friday the Trump administration paused its new taxes on electronics imported into the U.S. -- signaling some relief from trade wars that have particularly escalated with China, a major exporter of technology from smartphones to laptops. But these goods remain subject to other levies.

And officials have also indicated that additional, sector-specific tariffs targeting electronics are on the way -- all of which economists warn will raise costs and lead to higher prices for consumers.

Here's what we know.

Are electronics exempt from Trump's newest tariffs?

Late Friday, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection said that electronics, including smartphones and laptops, would be excluded from broader, so-called "reciprocal" tariffs -- meaning these goods wouldn't be subject to most tariffs levied on China to date or the 10% baseline levies imposed on other countries.

But U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick later said that this was only a temporary reprieve -- telling ABC's "This Week" on Sunday that electronics will be included under future sector-specific tariffs on semiconductor products, set to arrive in "probably a month or two."

And not all of the levies that the U.S. has imposed on countries like China fall under the White House's "reciprocal" categorization. Hours after Lutnick's comments, Trump declared on social media that there was no "exception" at all, adding to confusion. Trump instead argued that these goods are "just moving to a different" bucket. He also said that China will still face a 20% levy on electronics imports as part of his administration's prior move related to fentanyl trafficking.

How has China responded?

On Sunday, China's commerce ministry welcomed a partial reprieve on consumer electronics -- but continued to call for the U.S. to completely cancel the rest of its tariffs.

Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated that on Monday, writing in an editorial jointly published in Vietnamese and Chinese official media that "there are no winners in a trade war." He added that both China and the U.S. "should resolutely safeguard the multilateral trading system, stable global industrial and supply chains, and open and cooperative international environment."

Tit-for-tat tariffs between the U.S. and China have escalated to new heights over recent months. Since taking office in January, Trump has imposed a series of levies that now amount to 145% taxes on a range of imports from the country.

In response, China has hit back with its own measures, including tariffs on U.S. goods that currently total 125%. Its Commerce Ministry has also said it will impose more export controls on rare earths, used in high-tech products such as computer chips and electric vehicle batteries.

What could reducing tariffs on electronics mean for consumers?

Tariffs are taxes on goods imported from other countries. And because so many of the electronics we buy rely on a global supply chain, economists have warned that tariffs impacting consumer technology could mean higher prices for your next smartphone, computer or other gadgets.

Reducing the size of those tariffs, even temporarily, could delay or lessen that impact. But it's unlikely that price hikes will be totally avoided. Electronics will still be taxed by previous (non-"reciprocal") tariffs -- and potentially under additional, sector-specific levies down the road.

It would also be incredibly difficult for companies to change their supply chains. The Trump administration argues that tariffs will entice big names like Apple, for example, to make iPhones in the U.S. for the first time. But Apple has spent decades building up a finely calibrated supply chain in China -- and it would take years and cost billions of dollars to build new plants in the U.S.

Dipanjan Chatterjee, vice president and principal analyst at Forrester, said in a note Monday that Apple should continue "business-as-usual" supply chain diversification and have "Plan B" pricing for different product lines -- while pausing before taking action to reduce risk and working on the company's relationship with both U.S. and Chinese governments to avoid blowback.

Trump signaled on Monday that he had spoken to Apple CEO Tim Cook before exempting electronics from some of his China tariffs -- telling reporters that he had "helped" Cook with the partial reprieve, while separately saying he plans to provide temporary exemptions for auto makers that may also need "a little bit of time." The Associated Press reached out to Apple for statement.

How is Wall Street reacting?

Tariffs have plunged financial markets worldwide into turmoil -- particularly battering stocks following of Trump's sweeping announcement on April 2. That cooled after news of this partial electronics exemption, as well as last week's pause of steeper tariffs outside of China.

As of Monday afternoon, the S&P 500 was 0.2% higher, though trading was still shaky after it gave back most of its early gain of 1.8%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 57 points, or 0.1%, and the Nasdaq composite fell 0.1%

Still, the relief could be fleeting. Uncertainty remains high for many companies trying to make long-term plans when conditions seem to change daily.

"Businesses thrive on stability because they plan around rules of engagement ... Ergo, markets perform better when businesses are confident that the rules are really the rules," Chatterjee wrote Monday. Still, he added, businesses will need to avoid knee-jerk reactions while evaluating risk. "When Friday's policies are thrown out with Sunday's brunch leftovers, companies will resort to one primary strategy: do as little as possible and thereby do no harm."

_______

AP Writers Josh Boak in Washington, Mae Anderson in Nashville and Matt O'Brien in Providence, Rhode Island, contributed to this report.

Continue Reading...

Popular

Elon Musk's Ex-Wives Missed Out on His Billion-Dollar Wealth — Here's Why

In a stark contrast to Elon Musk's $364 billion fortune, his first wife Justine Wilson Musk is worth just $15 million.

A "Backdoor" Way to Claim a Stake in Elon's Optimus Before Its Launch - Ad

In 2017, Elon Musk went on record to say his Optimus could be "capable of doing anything". One Silicon Valley insider has identified a little-known "backdoor" way to invest in Optimus before its launch. This under-the-radar play could deliver astronomical returns - and you can get started with as little as $100.

How to save for short-term goals while keeping long-term ones in mind

You shouldn’t have to cross your fingers and hope for a strong stock market to coincide with your short-term goals. And right now, .

Warren Buffett's Top Stock Picks Now Come With a 15% Income Bonus Through This Fund

A new ETF is offering investors the chance to follow in the footsteps of one of the world's most successful investors and earn income at the same time.

Elon's Optimus Could Mint New American Millionaires - Ad

Elon Musk's upcoming Optimus robot could turn him into the world's first trillionaire. Morgan Stanley has already gone on record to say that Optimus could be part of a $30 trillion opportunity... And one Silicon Valley insider has uncovered a way for Americans to potentially profit from Optimus BEFORE it gets rolled out.

Amazon launches its first internet satellites to compete against SpaceX's Starlinks

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Amazon’s first batch of rocketed into orbit Monday, the latest entry in the mega constellation market currently dominated by SpaceX's .

Financial Crime Weekly: Man Charged With Operating $198 Million Crypto Ponzi Scheme

The Securities and Exchange Commission filed charges on Tuesday against Ramil Palafox, accusing him of running a fraudulent investment scheme that collected nearly $198 million from Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) and foreign exchange inve

One Coin to Rule Them All... - Ad

Hardly any investors are talking about this coin but I believe that's about to change with some potentially huge news! Get in on the ground floor while it's rock bottom with this new how-to guide, just $3.

This CEO Says Tariff Uncertainty Is Actually Good for His Business

John Santora, the CEO of WeWork, has revealed that the current economic uncertainty due to tariffs is driving an increase in business for the coworking space company.

Chamath Palihapitiya Says Nvidia Is Huawei's 'New Target' — A 'National Champion' That Crushed Tech Giants With A 'Low-End Disruptor' Strategy

Chamath Palihapitiya warned that Huawei is using a "low-end disruptor" strategy to challenge Western tech giants like Nvidia, as China accelerates its push for tech independence amid rising U.S.-China tensions.

Elon Musk Drops Stunning Bombshell? - Ad

Behind closed doors, Musk revealed a game-changing breakthrough technology that could shake the tech world & crush major companies. Why is no one talking about it? Luckily, we had a man on the inside - watch now to see the details & how to profit!

UnitedHealth, T-Mobile And Fiserv Are Among Top 12 Large-Cap Losers Last Week (Apr 21-Apr 25): Are The Others In Your Portfolio?

The worst performing large-cap stocks last week were Fiserv, Northrop Grumman, Erie Indemnity, T-Mobile, Watsco, Gold Fields, Aon, AngloGold Ashanti, Ryan Specialty, Tyler Technologies, Kimberly-Clark, and UnitedHealth Group.

Donald Trump Set To Sign Landmark 'Take It Down Act' As Congress Targets Deepfake Images And Videos

President Donald Trump is expected to sign the bipartisan "Take It Down Act," making it a federal crime to publish nonconsensual deepfake pornography and requiring swift removal by online platforms.

Elon's Greatest Invention... Hidden in South Memphis? - Ad

Tech legend Jeff Brown recently traveled to the industrial zone of South Memphis to investigate what he believes will be Elon's greatest invention ever... Yes, even bigger than Tesla or SpaceX.

No.1 Opportunity for 2025 [Take Action Now!] - Ad

Starlink's potential IPO Could Be the Biggest in History--Silicon Valley insider James Altucher has uncovered a way to profit BEFORE the IPO--with as little as $50. Musk's $180B giant is set to launch--will you miss out? Claim your spot before it's too late.

Trump's AI Education Push, Cramer's AI Stock Optimism, And More: This Week In Artificial Intelligence

Week full of AI news: Trump advocates for AI education, Cramer bullish on AI stocks, Amazon and Nvidia dismiss data center fears, OpenAI's restructuring raises concerns, Nadella's Microsoft introduces AI updates.

This "Awesome Resource" Could Power America for 30,000 Years... - Ad

We sent one of our smartest researchers into the middle of the Utah desert with a film crew. Why? So he could lead an investigation into a radical new kind of energy that's so abundant, the Dept. of Energy says it could meet America's power needs for the next 2 million years.

GM Q1 Earnings On Tap: 2025 Could Be The Year 'Margins Surprise'

GM to report Q1 earnings on Tuesday, with EPS of $2.73 and revenues of $43.15 billion expected. Stock has gained 2.65% in past year, but down 8% YTD.

NEW THIS WEEK: Huge Energy Discovery In Utah - Ad

The Department of Energy says it could power America for millions of years, and both grizzled oilmen and clean energy supporters love it: Energy Secretary Chris Wright called it "an awesome resource," while Warren Buffett, Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, and Bill Gates are all directly invested.

Tens of thousands of Los Angeles County workers begin 2-day strike

LOS ANGELES (AP) — More than 50,000 Los Angeles county workers began a two-day strike Monday evening, closing libraries and disrupting administrative operations across the nation's most populous county.

DOGE trumpets unemployment fraud that government already found

NEW YORK (AP) — The latest government waste touted by billionaire Elon Musk's cost-cutting Department of Government Efficiency is hundreds of millions of dollars in fraudulent unemployment claims it purportedly uncovered.

Putting Your Name on This List Could Hand You $1,270 on Friday - Ad

URGENT: On Tuesday, a simple set of instructions will be sent out to an elite group of investors. The folks in this group will have the opportunity to place a 10-minute trade that could double their money by Friday. Consider this your invitation to join them. The next trade is just days away.

Ex-Cellmate Says Epstein Was Offered Plea Deal for Information on Trump: 'Give Them Something on Trump To Get Him Impeached'

Jeffrey Epstein was allegedly offered a plea deal by federal prosecutors. The deal was contingent on Epstein providing information on President Trump, as claimed by Epstein's former cellmate.

China May Hit US Where It Hurts Amid Trump's Tariff War — Services Trade In Crosshairs, With Walt Disney, IMAX And Warner Bros. Discovery In Focus

As Washington doubles down on its trade war with China, and tariffs now going as high as 104%, some leading experts believe that the Middle Kingdom might have an ace up its sleeve, that could hit the United States where it hurts most—Services.

Brace Yourself for Jeff Bezos' "Amazon Helios" - Ad

Amazon delivers 20 million packages a day... powers some of the most popular websites... delivers medication to half of the U.S. population... and even produces award-winning films and TV shows. But a Wall Street legend -- twice featured on 60 Minutes -- predicts that "Amazon Helios" will be bigger than all of those... COMBINED.

A bushel of fruit and vegetable motifs give decor a healthy farmstand vibe

Interior designer and stylist Jonny Carmack has a “fruit room” in his Danbury, Connecticut, home. Colorful faux produce bedecks every inch, from the cherry-shaped ceiling fixture to a strawberry side table and a bunch of other juicy gems in decorative forms.

World Economic Forum: "Arguably the Most Exciting Human Discovery Since Fire" - Ad

Sam Altman, Bill Gates, and Mark Zuckerberg are all investing vast sums of money into a radical technology. According to Bloomberg, this could become 10 times bigger than AI, quantum computing, electric vehicles, cryptocurrencies, and robotics combined. And one stock is at the center of it all.

Google Tells Court Only It Can Run Chrome, Warns Forced Divestiture Would Break The Browser: 'Don't Think It Can Be Recreated,' Says Executive

Google told a federal court that only it can operate Chrome properly due to deep integration with its infrastructure, warning that a forced divestiture would break the browser, while a government expert argued transfer is feasible.

Why Barrick Gold Stock Is Trading Lower

Barrick Gold Corp (NYSE:GOLD) shares are trading lower by 4.5% to $19.08 during Wednesday’s session.

Trump Exec Order to Help Restore Wealth for American Citizens? - Ad

Thanks to President Trump's Executive Order 14179, a brief "AI Wealth Window" is opening now. Genius investor James Altucher has released 3 AI wealth-building strategies to take advantage of Trump's genius Executive Order 14179. James believes you could see $10,000 grow to $1 MILLION or more over the next few years.

Bill Gates Says 'Luckily' His Daughter Phoebe Gates Never Asked Him To Back Her Business

Bill Gates is glad his daughter Phoebe never asked him to back her business, as it could have complicated their relationship.

PHOTO ESSAY: In a Greek island monastery, a monk has kept together faith and community for 50 years

AMORGOS, Greece (AP) — For more than 50 years, Spyridon Denaxas — or Father Spyridon, as he’s affectionately called — has prayed, worked and welcomed the faithful in a millennium-old monastery carved into a seaside cliff on the Greek island of Amorgos.

You Can Take a Stake in Elon's xAI Before May 1st... - Ad

Elon Musk's private AI firm xAI may have just leapfrogged ChatGPT and Google's Gemini--building what experts call the future of AI. For the first time, you can take a stake starting at $500.

Visa cancellations sow panic for international students, with hundreds fearing deportation

WASHINGTON (AP) — At first, the bar association for immigration attorneys began receiving inquiries from a couple students a day. These were foreigners studying in the U.S., and they'd their legal status had been terminated with little notice. To their knowledge, none of the students had committed a deportable offense.

Trending Now

Information, charts or examples are for illustration and educational purposes only and not for individualized investment management This message contains commercial elements, such as advertising. We only send these offers to those who have opted in to our newsletter. Past performance is not indicative of future results. For these reasons we strongly suggest trading in a DEMO/Simulated account. The information provided by us is for educational and informational purposes only. We make no representations or warranties concerning the products, practices or procedures of any company or entity mentioned or recommended and have not determined if the statements and opinions of the advertiser are accurate, correct or truthful. If you use, act upon or make decisions in reliance on information contained or any external source linked within it, you do so at your own peril and agree to hold us, our officers, directors, shareholders, affiliates and agents without fault.

Copyright trendadvisor.net
Privacy Policy | Terms of Service