China’s exports of smartphones and other mobile devices to the U.S. fell to the lowest level in over a decade this April, according to U.S. customs data cited by Bloomberg. The sharp decline is due to the impact of U.S. tariffs, which have disrupted high-value electronics trade between the two nations.
The report states that China’s smartphone exports to the U.S. saw a 72% year-over-year decline last month, falling to just under $700 million. The drop was considerably larger than the overall 21% decrease in Chinese exports to the U.S. during the same timeframe.
The Trump administration recently imposed tariffs as high as 145% on certain Chinese-made products, disrupting technology supply chains and prompting a shift in electronics manufacturing to other countries. In 2024, iPhones, laptops, and lithium batteries ranked among China’s top exports to the U.S.
While smartphones and electronics were temporarily exempt from the April tariff measures, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick cautioned that industry-specific tariffs—particularly targeting semiconductors essential to these devices—could be introduced in the coming months.
On Monday, the Chinese government claimed that the U.S. had undermined trade discussions after the Commerce Department issued an industry advisory specifically targeting Huawei’s semiconductor sector.
CNBC reports that approximately 90% of Apple iPhones are currently assembled in China. In response, Apple is working to expand its manufacturing operations in India, aiming to produce 25% of its iPhones there within the next few years.
China’s General Administration of Customs reports that smartphone component exports to India have surged fourfold in the past year.
POLICY & LAW | India Limits Import of Gold and Silver from UAE Under CEPA
