Apple, HP, Dell Halt PC Exports to U.S. from Chengdu Plants

According to a recent report by Nikkei Asia, leading U.S.-based PC brands including Apple, HP, and Dell have temporarily suspended shipments of products from mainland China to the United States. The move is reportedly in response to reciprocal tariff measures introduced under the Trump administration's trade policy.

Insiders from Foxconn's Chengdu plant—Apple's contract manufacturing partner for Mac and iPad devices—revealed that exports to the U.S. have been paused. Apple is now reportedly exploring alternative manufacturing and export hubs, such as India, to mitigate future disruptions. Historically, 30–40% of the products made at the Chengdu facility were destined for the U.S. market. The suspension has led to a notable decline in production output and capacity utilization at the site.

Similarly, executives from HP's manufacturing base in Chongqing, managed by Quanta, confirmed that shipments to North America ceased in early April. Sources familiar with the plant's operations disclosed that some production lines have been shut down and workforce numbers reduced.

In a parallel development, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced a list of 20 tariff exemption codes on the evening of April 11 (EST), covering a wide range of electronic devices and components. These include smartphones, PCs, semiconductors, LCD panels, solid-state drives (SSDs), and wireless networking equipment. These exemptions temporarily shield affected goods from the 125% tariff hike.

However, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo clarified on April 13 that the tariff exemptions granted to semiconductors and other electronics are only temporary. A new round of semiconductor tariffs is expected to be implemented within the next one to two months.