In an unexpected twist that truly encapsulates the whirlwind of these past two weeks, the Trump administration has decided to exclude computers, smartphones, and other electronics from a daunting 145% tariff on Chinese imports. This decision comes as a huge relief for major tech companies like Razer, HP, Dell, Microsoft, ASUS, and Acer.
According to reports from Bloomberg and others, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced this latest exemption late on Friday night. It means that our beloved laptops, PCs, gaming consoles, and smartphones will dodge not just the hefty 145% tariff—which would make importing them nearly impossible—but also the interim 10% tariff that has hit other countries. Quite the break if you ask me!
So, what does this mean for us, the consumers? Well, we shouldn’t see any immediate hikes in electronics prices since semiconductors, which are crucial parts, remain largely untouched by these tariffs. However, there might be minor cost bumps lurking down the line. After all, laptops are assembled from components sourced globally, and some elements may still face slight tariffs before they’re shipped and sold in the U.S.
If you’re visualizing all this, imagine President Trump and Apple’s CEO Tim Cook strolling through a computer manufacturing plant in Austin, Texas—a recent image captured on November 20, 2019. Amidst the backdrop of these shifting policies, PC makers might still play it cautious, curbing production and shipment plans to avoid getting stuck with stacks of unsellable goods if trade talks between Washington and Beijing take a nosedive.
Beyond computers and smartphones, we’ve also seen tariff exemptions for hard drives, computer processors, and memory chips. Earlier, Razer hit pause on laptop sales in the U.S. through its site. Meanwhile, Acer had preemptively announced price jumps and gaming handhelds like Lenovo’s Legion Go S and MSI’s Claw surged by $50 and $100, respectively.
Had those hefty 145% tariffs been implemented, store prices would have more than doubled. Retailers like Best Buy and Amazon could have even faced the grim possibility of empty shelves, opting not to restock such pricey merchandise.
However, Bloomberg hints that this tariff relief might be short-lived, suggesting these products could soon face a new, albeit likely lower, tariff for China. Essentially, this rollercoaster isn’t stopping anytime soon. For now, though, the consumer tech industry can breathe a sigh of relief.
Stay tuned to our live blog for the latest on this tariff saga and how it impacts your favorite PCs, laptops, gaming consoles, and more.
