United States can't rely on China for semiconductors, phones and laptops: White House

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

Credit: Reuters photo

West Palm Beach/ Washington: President Donald Trump has made clear that the United States cannot rely on China to manufacture critical technologies such as semiconductors, chips, smartphones and laptops, the White House said on Saturday after excluding such items from higher tariffs.

White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said in a statement after the exclusions were made public that Trump had secured trillions of dollars in US investments from companies such as Apple and Nvidia.

"At the direction of the President, these companies are hustling to onshore their manufacturing in the United States as soon as possible,” she said.