Tech Stocks Brace for Collapse as Exemption Tease Gets Burned—Oh No, We Suck Again…

So, here we are again—another Monday, another round of what the f*** is happening. On Friday night, U.S. Customs and Border Protection quietly dropped a tariff exemption list that looked like a temporary lifeline for tech companies. iPhones, laptops, TVs, semiconductors, all seemingly spared from the big swingin’ 145% tariff hammer Trump’s been hitting Chinese imports with. And for a second, all was well in the tech world. But then, Sunday happened. 

(Source: Giphy) 

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick went on ABC’s This Week to walk back the so-called “exemptions” with the energy of a guy who just realized he fat fingered the wrong “you up” text to his wife. His explanation read as: sure, electronics are exempt from the reciprocal tariffs, for now, but they’re about to be hit under a completely different set of tariffs: the “national security” bucket. Which apparently is a new thing. Or maybe it’s always been a thing. No one seems to know. Not even them.

Lutnick said these electronics will fall under upcoming semiconductor sectoral tariffs, which are apparently immune to negotiation and, he insists, absolutely necessary for “reshoring” production to the U.S. He also threw in a line about needing “flat panels” made in America, as if that’s going to suddenly resurrect the domestic TV manufacturing industry that hasn’t existed since Blockbuster was still a thing.

(Source: CNBC) 

Meanwhile, Trump took to Truth Social to say the exemptions don’t even exist. He straight-up denied the Friday guidance, claiming the products are still under the original 20% fentanyl tariffs and are now just “moving to a different tariff bucket,” whatever the hell that means. He also threw in the usual performative rage at China and the “Fake News” for good measure. Bigly. 

So yeah, it looks like the exemptions were a bit of economic policy by vibes. One day, exemptions are on. The next, they’re off. Then tomorrow they may be back on again, but under a different name. Who knows. But it’s clear it’s already screwing with markets that are barely keeping their sh*t together as it is.

(Source: Axios) 

For instance, tech companies, especially Apple, just had their heads spun around like it’s the Exorcist. One minute, they’re dodging a price hike that would’ve nuked their margins. The next, they’re being told none of this was real and that they’re about to get hit with a “national security” tariff that hasn’t even been finalized yet.

Meaning you can bet your bottom dollar that this is going to lead to one interesting Monday price action in big tech today. Because while the market, investors, and businesses can handle bad news (sometimes)---what they can’t handle is waking up every morning to a new version of the rules. And that’s exactly what has happened. 

(Source: Giphy) 

At the end of the day, if the exemptions are indeed “temporary”, prices on electronics are going up. Not maybe. Not hypothetically. They’re going up. Meaning, consumers like you and I… we’ll we’re screwed, and big tech sucks again. In the meantime, keep your head on the swivel, and place your bets accordingly. Until next time, friends… 

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Stocks.News holds position in Apple as mentioned in the article.