Trump tariffs may affect electronics, appliances

White House may add semiconductor chips

By: Daniel Munoz
NorthJersey.com
USA Today Network - New Jersey

..... Smartphones, tablets, watches and laptops. Kitchen appliances, refrigerators and washing machines. These products could have some of the biggest price hikes in the coming months, thanks to President Donald Trump's proposed tariffs, experts say.
..... The White House announced Monday [04/14/2025] that it was eyeing tariffs on semiconductors chips in the coming weeks.
..... That comes despite a 90-day pause on tariffs on products form most of the United States' trading partners, with the exception of China, which got hit with tariffs of 145% on its goods imported to the United States.
..... The U.S. relies heavily on Taiwan and other Asian sources for semiconductors, which control electrical currents and are energy-related devices such as solar panels. In 2024, the U.S. imported 4127 billion in electronics from China, reported Trading Economics.
..... In a worst-case scenario, the tariffs could cost the average household an extra $3,800 a year, according to new estimates form the Budget Lab at Yale, a nonprofit research institute.
..... The prices of appliances such as refrigerators, dishwashers and microwaves could increase between 5% and 10% over the next year, [2025] said Ralph McLaughlin, the chief economist at OpenBrand, a market intelligence firm.
..... And prices may increase 10% to15% over the next year [2025] for consumer electronics, including smartphones, tablets, headphones, computers and Bluetooth speakers, McLaughlin added.
..... Appliances would see fewer price increases because more of them are made in the United States than overseas compared with consumer electronics, McLaughlin said.
..... So if you're planning to buy electronics, which can go for hundreds or thousands of dollars, how can you smartly make your next big purchase?

Avoid panic shopping

..... Consumer Reports author James Willcox advised against panic shopping, which can lead to purchases you otherwise wouldn't make.
..... If you can wait a bit and the tariffs are not as damaging to your wallet, there may be good deals on Amazon Prime Day or Black Friday, Willcox said.
..... McLaughlin agreed. "You might be able to wait out the turbulence and smooth air might come sooner than later," he said.

Consider older models, sued or refurbished products

..... Willcox said you can sometimes find models up to two years old still for sale in electronics stores. Fro example, laptops from 2022 are for sale on Amazon.
..... And if there's a surge of people upgrading their appliances and consumer electronics, that could lead to a surge in people trying to resell slightly or gently used items, McLaughlin said.

Make big purchases soon

..... "If you're in the market for a new video game console, now is definitely the time to buy," said Shawn DuBravac, chief economist at the global electronics association IPC
..... "If you have a washer or dryer that you think could last another 12 months or 18 months,: on the other hand, "per-play out," DuBravac said.
..... Retailers spent the past few months stocking up on electronics in anticipation of Trump's tariffs, so they have some inventory sitting in their U.S. warehouses, said Kevin Brasler, executive editor of Consumers' checkbook, a nonprofit consumer organization.
..... "But once retailers need to import new stock and do so by importing newly tariffed products, prices will rise," he said

Avoid fake sales, claims of low inventory

..... Brasler said some retailers may make false claims that they have low warehouse inventory to pressure you to make a purchases.
..... "By setting immediate deadlines, they hope you'll stop your pesky contemplation and buy already," he said in a 2023 post.

..... This article contains material from, USA Today.

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