US President Trump wants import duties on, among other things, laptops and smartphones

US President Donald Trump has said in an interview that he wants to impose tariffs on more electronics from China. Until now, companies like Apple did not have to pay the import duties, but that may change.

With the move, Trump wants to increase pressure on China and persuade Apple to move production to the United States, he said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal. The import duty would be 10 percent. Americans would therefore possibly pay 10 percent more for smartphones and laptops, among other things. Trump previously introduced tariffs on many Chinese goods, but smartphones and laptops were not among them.

That import duty would affect smartphones and laptops, because many manufacturers have them made in China and then transport them to the US. The Wall Street Journal article only mentions iPhones by name. Trump says Americans can easily bear the tariff. Manufacturers may pass on the import tax. The president notes that manufacturers can move production to the US to avoid paying the duties.

It is not the first time that import duties have been imposed on electronics. In the previous round in September, PCBs and TVs, among other things, became more expensive. Trump then waived tariffs on smartphones and laptops due to possible consumer reaction. Consumers in the Benelux will probably not have to deal with higher prices, because goods come here directly from China.

Trump announced this a week before meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping. He will negotiate with him on trade between the two countries. The US president wants Xi to open up China more to trade from his country.