• Trump's executive order offers tariff exemptions for over 45 categories of goods.
• Exemptions apply to imported items like nickel, gold, and pharmaceutical compounds.
• The zero-tariff items will start to take effect on Monday at 12:01 AM EDT.
• Exemptions depend on the negotiation and commitments of trading partners.
• Previous concessions on plastics and polysilicon have been revoked.

U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order that will grant tariff exemptions starting Monday to trading partners who reach agreements on industrial exports, including nickel, gold, and pharmaceutical compounds. This directive identifies over 45 categories of goods that will be eligible for zero import tariffs, aimed at "aligned partners" who initiate framework pacts to reduce Trump's previously imposed "reciprocal" tariffs, according to Reuters, Dawn, and India Times.

The new order aligns U.S. tariffs with existing commitments made to allies such as Japan and the European Union. The specific exemptions set to begin at 12:01 A.M. EDT on Monday cover items that “cannot be grown, mined, or naturally produced in the United States”, according to details within the executive order, highlighting efforts to cut U.S. trade deficits and pressure international partners into compliance, according to Reuters, Dawn, and India Times.

According to a White House official, the exemptions will also allow the U.S. Trade Representative and the Commerce Department to waive tariffs on covered imports without requiring further executive authorization, provided that a "reciprocal" trade deal is established. This includes various forms of graphite and nickel, key materials for electric vehicle batteries and stainless steel production, as well as pharmaceutical compounds used in medical applications, according to Reuters, Dawn, and India Times.

The order also outlines that exemptions will extend to diverse gold imports, which have seen high tariff rates, particularly affecting suppliers like Switzerland who are currently taxed at 39% due to the lack of a trade deal. Furthermore, the order reverses earlier exemptions on specific plastics and polysilicon, crucial materials for solar panels, indicating a shift in strategic trade policy towards these items, as reported by Reuters, Dawn, and India Times.