New Delhi, April 12 -- US President Donald Trump has emphasised that the United States cannot depend on China for essential technologies like semiconductors, chips, smartphones, and laptops, the White House said on Saturday (April 12), following a decision to exempt these items from steep new tariffs.

The exemptions mark a significant policy move within Trump's broader strategy to reduce US dependence on Chinese manufacturing, particularly in sectors critical to national security and economic resilience.

White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said that major tech firms, including Apple and Nvidia, have already pledged substantial investments in the US as part of the administration's push to boost domestic production.

"At the directio...