United States of America: President adopted Memorandum clarifying exceptions under Executive Order 14257 on reciprocal tariff rates

On 11 April 2025, the President of the United States issued a memorandum clarifying the scope of exceptions under Executive Order 14257 of 2 April 2025, which introduced reciprocal tariffs on goods contributing to US trade deficits (many of which were subsequently postponed). The clarification confirms that products under specific headings of the US Harmonized Tariff Schedule, including automatic data-processing machines, machines for manufacturing semiconductors and electronic integrated circuits are excluded from the imposed ad valorem duties. It was also highlighted that the Schedule will be amended to reflect this exclusion, effective retroactively from 5 April 2025, and any duties collected on qualifying imports since that date will be refunded in accordance with US Customs and Border Protection procedures.