U.S. President Donald Trump said on the 14th (local time) that he is "reviewing something to help some auto companies." This statement is interpreted as suggesting a temporary exemption on tariffs for auto parts.
During a meeting in the Oval Office with El Salvador President Nayib Bukele, Trump responded to a question about whether there are specific items under consideration for temporary tariff exemption, saying, "They are transitioning (production) to make parts that were produced in Canada and Mexico here." However, he added, "They need a little (more) time."
When asked if Apple products or smartphones could be exempt from tariffs, he responded, "I haven’t changed my mind, but I am a very flexible person," and added, "I don’t want to hurt anybody."
He also suggested the introduction of additional tariff exemption policies. Trump said, "There’ll be maybe things coming up," noting that the final outcome would be that the United States would be in a great position.
Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Vietnam, which announced that the United States would impose a reciprocal tariff of 46%. This visit is seen as an effort to garner cooperation in response to the reciprocal tariffs imposed by the Trump administration.
In response to this, Trump stated, "I don't blame China or Vietnam," adding that their meeting seems to be aimed at figuring out "how we can screw America."
Meanwhile, the Trump administration specified in a presidential memorandum on the 11th the electronic products, including semiconductors, that would be excluded from reciprocal tariffs. However, Trump and Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo indicated that the measure to exclude smartphones, laptops, computer processors, memory chips, and semiconductor manufacturing equipment from reciprocal tariffs is not "permanent."