President Trump retreated a bit in his trade war with China on Friday, exempting smartphones, computers and other electronics from the hefty tariffs. The move is a relief for companies like Apple and consumers who are concerned about how tariffs could affect prices.

New York

Donald Trump has signed an order to impose tariffs imports into the U.S. from countries including China, Mexico and Canada.

Global Tariffs

President Trump has announced a decision to exempt smartphones, computers, and other electronics from many tariffs amid his ongoing trade conflict with China. This move offers relief to companies like Apple, which manufactures most of its products overseas, particularly in China and India. Consumers, who had previously been concerned about potential price increases, had increased device purchases, resulting in a 33% spike in sales over the course of a day.

The Trump administration's exemption from tariffs marks the second reversal in trade policy within the week. The administration also declared a 90-day pause on broad tariffs affecting U.S. trading partners, excluding a 145% tariff on goods imported from China. As a result of these shifts, financial markets have experienced volatility throughout the week.

The negotiations between the U.S. and China remain at a standstill, with China responding to the U.S. tariff plans with a 125% tariff on American goods. Despite the current situation, President Trump maintains that progress is being made, while no new trade agreements have been initiated with the U.S.'s largest trading partners—Canada, Mexico, and China—who continue to implement retaliatory tariffs.



Trump exempts smartphones, computers from most tariffs

President Trump is spending the weekend in Florida as his administration takes a second step back this week amid his ongoing trade war with China and U.S. trading partners. Last night, the Trump administration announced exemptions for smartphones, computers, and other consumer electronics from most of his tariffs. President Trump hinted at the move yesterday on Air Force One. There could be a couple of exceptions for obvious reasons. The move is a boost to corporate giants like Apple, whose iPhone is primarily made overseas in China and India. Consumers fearing a price hike had rushed to buy devices, sending sales up 33% one day last week. Democratic Senator Chris Murphy called the tariffs a regime to reward big businesses like Apple. It's the second about-face this week. The president announced plans to pause wide-ranging tariffs on U.S. trading partners for 90 days, with the exception of a 145% tariff on imported goods from China. The move's rattling markets throughout the week. This stalemate between the trading superpowers prompted China to mock Trump's tariff plan as a joke. It slapped a 125% tariff on U.S. goods late this week. I think we're in a very good position. We're doing well. We have a lot of things happening. So far, none of America's three biggest trading partners, Canada, Mexico, and China, are negotiating new trade deals with the president, instead imposing retaliatory tariffs of their own.

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for keeping "the flame of democracy burning amid growing darkness." Machado opened up to CBS News about her decades of fighting for fair elections in an exclusive interview while in hiding.

Caracas

María Corina Machado wins Nobel Peace Prize

Eighteen people remain unaccounted for after a devastating blast rocked a military explosives plant in Tennessee. Residents miles away reported feeling the force of the explosion.

McEwen

Eighteen missing after blast at Tennessee military explosives plant

U.S. President Donald Trump will travel to the Middle East on Sunday to mark the first phase of his Gaza peace plan. Israel said a ceasefire took effect Friday and its military has begun to withdraw forces from parts of Gaza.

Jerusalem

Middle East Conflict

Trump prepares Middle East trip after Gaza peace plan agreement

Layoffs of federal workers begin as the government shutdown enters Day 10, OMB Director Russ Vought says. Some federal employees received notices Friday telling them they will be laid off in 60 days, CBS News has confirmed. Nancy Cordes has more.

Washington

Federal workers start receiving layoff notices amid shutdown

French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday named Sebastien Lecornu as prime minister, reappointing him after he quit the job earlier this week.

Paris

Macron reappoints Lecornu as French PM days after he quit the job

Officials say a deadly explosion at a military explosives facility in Tennessee killed multiple people, and others remain missing. CBS News' Shanelle Kaul reports.

Deadly explosion at military explosives facility in Tennessee

A federal judge has temporarily blocked the deployment of National Guard troops anywhere in the state of Illinois. CBS News' Ian Lee reports.

Chicago

Judge temporarily blocks National Guard deployment to Illinois

The Israeli military has begun withdrawing troops following a ceasefire agreement with Hamas. The deal, brokered by the U.S. and Egypt, includes releasing hostages and a plan for Gaza's future governance.

Gaza ceasefire agreement has come into effect, Israeli military says

Venezuelan political opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has been awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize. CBS News' Ramy Inocencio reports.

Stockholm

U.S. President Donald Trump will travel to Egypt and Israel this weekend to attend the signing of the Gaza peace agreement, address Israel's parliament and witness the release of hostages.

Trump to visit Middle East for Gaza peace deal signing

New York Attorney General Letitia James was indicted on one count of bank fraud and one count of giving false statements. She called the charges baseless and politically motivated, accusing President Donald Trump of using the Justice Department for revenge.

NY Attorney General Letitia James indicted on federal fraud charges

China dramatically expanded its rare earths export controls on Thursday (October 9), adding five new elements and extra scrutiny for semiconductor users as Beijing tightens control over the sector ahead of talks between Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping.

Beijing

China tightens rare earth export controls ahead of U.S. talks

A French court on Thursday (October 9) rejected the appeal of a former construction worker found guilty last year of the aggravated rape of Gisele Pelicot, and increased his prison sentence by a year to 10 years, his lawyer said

Sentence increased for man convicted of raping Gisele Pelicot

At least two people have died in a powerful 7.4 earthquake that struck the south east coast of the Philippines on Friday (October 10). Authorities had initially issued evacuation warnings following tsunami threats; however, these have now been lifted.

Davao Oriental

Philippines hit by 7.4 magnitude earthquake, at least two dead

Peru’s Congress has voted to impeach President Dina Boluarte on grounds of moral incapacity, plunging the country into fresh political turmoil after months of unrest.

Quito

Peru's President Dina Boluarte impeached

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that his government has approved a plan to release all remaining hostages in Gaza. The move is part of President Trump’s peace plan and could bring an end to the two-year conflict in the region.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

Israeli government approves framework to release hostages

New York Attorney General Letitia James has been indicted by a grand jury in Alexandria, Virginia. She faces two separate charges, one count of bank fraud and one count of false statements to a financial institution.

Alexandria

Federal grand jury indicts New York AG Letitia James

Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas signed an agreement on Thursday to cease fire and free Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, in the first phase of U.S. President Donald Trump's initiative to end the two-year war in Gaza.

Trump says Israel hostages to be freed early next week

The U.S. Senate held its seventh round of votes Thursday on Democratic and Republican plans to fund and reopen the government, but once again the bills failed to pass.

Senate votes to reopen government fail again on 9th day of shutdown

The chemistry award is the third 2025 Nobel Prize to be announced this week. Three U.S. scientists won the award in chemistry for creating a new molecular structure.

U.S. scientist trio win Nobel Prize in chemistry

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of wanting to sow "chaos" in Ukraine by launching strikes on his country's energy grid and railway infrastructure, in comments published Thursday.

Kyiv

Ukraine Invasion

Zelenskyy says Russia aims to sow 'chaos' with energy strikes

U.S. President Donald Trump announced Wednesday (October 8) that Hamas has agreed to release hostages and Israel will pull back its troops in Gaza in the "first phase" of a peace deal. CBS News' Debora Patta reports.

Israel and Hamas agree to phase one of peace deal

Russia and China are sending high-level representatives to North Korea for celebrations honoring 80 years of the ruling party. CBS News' Ramy Inocencio reports.

Pyongyang

Russia, China send representatives to North Korea

The Toronto Blue Jays won Game 4 of their American League Division Series matchup against the New York Yankees to advance to the next round of the Major League Baseball playoffs.

Blue Jays defeat Yankees to advance to ALCS

The ongoing U.S. government shutdown has led to major delays and staffing shortages at airports, raising safety concerns. The flight attendants’ union says reduced oversight and overworked crews are putting additional strain on the aviation system.

Aviation less safe during any government shutdown, union warns

Earlier this week, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said one of the reasons for staffing shortages at airports is that a growing number of air traffic controllers have been calling in sick. Those controllers don't know when they'll get their next paycheck amid the government shutdown.

Los Angeles International Airport

Why the government shutdown is playing into travel delays

President Trump says he might travel to the Middle East as soon as this weekend as Israel and Hamas continue indirect negotiations to end the war in Gaza. CBS News senior White House and political correspondent Ed O'Keefe has the details.

Cairo

Trump 'may' go to Egypt or Gaza amid Israel-Hamas peace

A 29-year-old Florida man has been arrested on suspicion of arson in connection with the deadly Palisades Fire that scorched parts of Los Angeles earlier this year, officials said Wednesday.

Los Angeles

Man arrested for allegedly starting Palisades Fire in California

Former FBI Director James Comey pleaded not guilty to two counts in federal court on Wednesday (October 8) after being indicted by the U.S. Department of Justice in September.

James Comey pleads not guilty to charges brought by Trump's DOJ

Some air traffic control staffing issues and bad weather are affecting flight delays as the government shutdown enters its eighth day. CBS News senior transportation correspondent Kris Van Cleave has more details.

See The Full Story

Global Tariffs