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Your Apple Watch and AirPods may be safe from Trump's China tax

The products reportedly aren't on the list of Chinese products facing a new 10 percent tariff.

Abrar Al-Heeti Technology Reporter
Abrar Al-Heeti is a technology reporter for CNET, with an interest in phones, streaming, internet trends, entertainment, pop culture and digital accessibility. She's also worked for CNET's video, culture and news teams. She graduated with bachelor's and master's degrees in journalism from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Though Illinois is home, she now loves San Francisco -- steep inclines and all.
Expertise Abrar has spent her career at CNET analyzing tech trends while also writing news, reviews and commentaries across mobile, streaming and online culture. Credentials
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Abrar Al-Heeti
2 min read
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You may not have to pay more for certain high-tech gadgets after all.

A category of tech products including the Apple Watch and AirPods will be spared from the Trump administration's next round of tariffs on Chinese goods, according to Bloomberg

The government is expected to release a list of Chinese products as soon as Monday that face a 10 percent tariff, people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg. Those products are worth as much as $200 billion. But a product code that covers wireless devices and includes gadgets like smartwatches, fitness trackers and other products by companies like Fitbit is reportedly not on that list. 

"We welcome this development and we appreciate the administration's time and effort to listen to industry and consumer concerns," a Fitbit representative said.

Apple  didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. 

Other goods under the excluded product code are Apple's HomePod speaker, BeatsWL headphones and AirPort and Time Capsule internet routers, according to Bloomberg. Those imports are worth about $12 billion, a person familiar with the matter told the news service. 

Earlier this month, Apple wrote a letter to the Office of the US Trade Representative saying the tariffs would make products like its Watch, AirPods and HomePod more expensive. It also argued that the tariff would be worse for the US than for China. 

The White House and the Office of the US Trade Representative didn't immediately respond to requests for comment. 

First published Sept. 17, 1:07 p.m. PT.
Update, 3:48 p.m.: Adds that Fitbit declined to comment. 
Update, Sept. 18 at 8:10 a.m.: Adds comment from Fitbit.