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It’s no secret that the recent US elections will have serious consequences around the world. The United States is a major player on the global stage, and therefore its decision-making can and will extend to other regions.

We’ve already seen some evidence of this. I wrote about how it was earlier this week. Bluesky gained 700,000 users Many have left since the election due to Twitter owner Elon Musk’s direct involvement in the Trump campaign. Musk has since named as co-chair of the new President’s new Office of Government Efficiency.

One of the most talked about points since Donald Trump’s victory has been the following offer: Trump tariffs. This was one of the Republican candidate’s main campaign points, and it could have serious consequences for the price of your technology.

What are Trump tariffs?

In short, Mr. Trump proposes using tariffs on imported goods as a means of dictating international relations while encouraging production within the United States. The idea is that these tariffs will make it more cost-effective to produce in the US, as well as reduce the risk of tax increases for US citizens by bringing in more capital.

It’s worth noting that the plan is not to tax. country It’s not where the goods come from, but rather that the US company is trying to use materials from that country.

Accordingly Business Content (via paywall) Trump plans to impose a 10-20 percent tariff on all goods entering the country, as well as an additional tariff of at least 60 percent on Chinese goods. This last part is where problems can arise for tech enthusiasts.

Will Trump tariffs make my technology more expensive?

The same Business Insider report says Trump has stated that such plans would not raise prices for American consumers. However, there is plenty of respectable evidence to suggest against this. After all, the chances of a business accepting an overnight cost increase to the benefit of its consumers are slim to none.

Instead, research conducted by Consumer Technologies Association suggests that consumer technology will evolve significantly more expensive. They state that laptops And tablets We may see the biggest increase, up about 46%. That means a $1,000 laptop today would cost almost $1,500 under Trump’s proposals.

Video game consoles are also expected to increase by approximately 40%. smartphones We could see a 26 percent price increase. This would add a significant amount to the cost of such devices and would almost unquestionably lead to increased inflation.

But worse than these, the research also suggests that the policy will not achieve one of its main goals. He states that the 60 percent customs duty, which is said to be applied to Chinese imports, will mostly direct production to other countries, not the USA.

This is something we’ve already seen. Apple iPhones now produced in places like India reports About 23% of total production is expected to occur there by the end of 2025.

This won’t just affect the USA either

Don’t think just because you live in the UK, Europe or elsewhere you’ll get away with it. Look, these tariffs are just directly Although it affects US citizens, its indirect impact will also be significant.

Pricing of consumer technology in general varies between markets. Historically speaking, if we’ve seen a price increase in one area, it doesn’t take long for the same price increase to reach another location.

Cynically speaking, this makes perfect sense. If a producer can test the waters with a higher price and determine that people are still willing to pay, there can be discussion of increasing the price elsewhere.

This is something I expect to see. After all, if a brand is currently making a tablet for $500 and it costs $750 after the tariff comes in, it will likely increase the relative price in other markets as well. This keeps things consistent, prevents users from buying across borders, and keeps their companies more money in their pockets.

What can I do as a consumer to avoid Trump tariffs?

Ultimately nothing. While it’s always wise to take rumors of changes with a grain of salt, it seems likely that the Trump administration will implement these tariffs. If so, a wide variety of sources suggest that your tech spending will skyrocket overnight.

However, there are some solutions. If you’re financially able, it’s worth looking at what technology you might need to buy in the next few years, with a view to buying now. For example, let’s say you know you’ll want to upgrade your phone in a few months; Consider looking for something now to avoid price increases.

Now is a particularly good time to do this because best Black Friday deals usually seen in big ticket tech products. You’ll find everything from new phones to new phones in the next few weeks. big televisions Prices have been reduced, which could be a boon for those looking to stock up before tariffs.