How Trump’s tariffs could affect consumer products presented at CES 2025– BC

technology Lovers: Higher prices may be on the horizon.

The incoming Trump administration has proposed a sweeping economic agenda that includes controversially high tariffs on imported goods, and while the plan has supposedly fluctuated For the past month, the president-elect has argued that raising tariffs on imports is the best way to pay for broad tax cuts and reduce the amount of drugs and migrant workers coming to the united states

The most likely outcome? Higher prices for consumers and their favorite products made abroad.

Analysts and companies themselves have warned about the possible price increase and predict that Trump’s current tariff plan would have disproportionate effects on consumer goods and electronics made in China, as the president-elect proposes blanket tariffs on all imports and a tax on Chinese products that could be more than 60 percent.

According to reports from the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), this policy path would have a net negative effect on the purchasing power of American consumers in the technology market, which could suffer a decrease of between 90,000 and 143,000 million dollars over the next year.

Meanwhile, the consumer technology industry is still on track for multi-billion dollar revenues in 2025, with the Consumer Technology Association predicting a $537 billion market in 2025. This year may see a reversal from last, which recorded dismal sales in its first half. . For now, the industry’s innovators and vendors are not slowing down.

The annual Consumer Electronics Showcase (CES), produced by CTA, revealed everything from robot vacuum cleaners that climb stairs (well, type of) to a laptop that unrolls onto a larger screen.

But Trump’s tariff crackdown may affect the types of products that make up CES’s bread and butter, including non-automotive lithium-ion batteries that power portable electronics, televisions, computer accessories, PCs, laptops, tablets and others. connected devices, among others. , writes Insider business information. About a quarter of CES exhibitors this year are made up of Chinese robotics and AI hardware companies, the Information reports, amid an ongoing AI and technology race between the US and China. In a statement to Global timesChinese display manufacturer BOE explained that it has doubled its exhibition area since 2024, with more than 1,000 registered Chinese companies attending.

Speaking in Las Vegas this week, CES organizers made an indirect attack on Trump’s economic plan before the international crowd: “To keep our economies thriving and inflation in check, we need policies that allow startups to thrive and create the next generation”. of technology leaders: policies that create rules of the game for technology companies and provide guardrails to protect security, privacy and fairness. saying Gary Shapiro, executive director of CES. “Here in the United States, that means finding a way to break the gridlock and pass sensible immigration reforms to promote high-skilled immigration and recognize that tariffs are taxes paid by American businesses, the American people and the world.”

Companies and brands in the storefront are taking a much less vocal approach to the looming taxes, either avoiding discussion of tariffs or adopting a “wait and see” stance as they introduce new products.

“We will continue to monitor global regulations and take strategic actions that increase our operational resilience, including being closer to markets with a shorter supply chain so we can act faster,” said Lisa Emard, Director of Media Relations. from Acer, in a comment to britcommerce. “We work with ODMs (original design manufacturers) for the manufacturing of our computers and, in some regions, we have our own final assembly lines to increase our flexibility and meet the needs of local customers. We currently also have manufacturing and assembly capabilities in Australia, Azerbaijan, Brazil, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, South Africa and the United States.”

Behind the scenes, some, like Applehave attempted to move away from China-dependent supply chains in recent years, with mixed results.

Consumers, on the other hand, are eager to enter a market full of shiny new products. This is where some of the most anticipated CES presentations fit into the country’s potential economic future.

vacuum cleaners

With Chinese companies quickly take over the market For electronic home cleaning products, consumers can First feel the tariff pinch. while they buy increasingly expensive vacuum cleaners, including robotic ones.

And CES exhibitors showed off a veritable army of new robotic vacuum cleaners this year. He Roborock Saros Z70 It has an extendable arm that can help pick up obstacles in its path, while the Dreame X50 Ultra It can overcome thresholds that other vacuums struggle with, as long as they are no larger than two inches.

Computers, tablets and smartphones

In its most recent report, the CTA estimates that Trump’s economic plan could increase the average price of laptops and tablets by up to 47 percent, or a range of between $200 and $350. Due to rising prices, laptop sales in general could suffer a decline 68 percent It will arrive in 2025, according to the CTA.

Those in the market on their own Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable (a laptop that can be enlarged) or the one from Nvidia personal AI supercomputer Then you may be willing to arrive early. New products from brands like Alienware and Acer You could also feel the pressure later, and monitors, like LG’s buzzy Flexible 5K2K Gaming MonitorThey are not safe from price increases.

game consoles

The CTA estimates that game consoles will see an average increase of $250 from their current selling price, which, in the extreme case, could reduce sales by up to 58 percent.

Notable CES presentations include portable hybrid Acer Nitro Blaze 11 and third-party SteamOS powered Lenovo Legion Go S.

Smart TVs

With AI set to innovate the somewhat inflated smart TV market, the products themselves may see a price increase of up to nine percent under the new rate plan.

At CES, Samsung’s Neo QLED, OLED, QLED and The Frame models, as well as LG’s OLED evo line, debuted with a new set of AI features. Samsung and LG also announced partnerships with Microsoft’s Copilot AI, and Google revealed it would bring Gemini AI to TVsalso.

Battery-powered televisions, like those from LG StanByMe 2could also be affected.

Technology-driven vehicles

Trump’s tariff plan could also increase the price of vehicles in the US, including those from American-made brands, with some experts estimating a Price increase from $600 to $2,500 per vehicle. And while Canadian, Mexican and Chinese assembled vehicles would certainly be affected by a country-specific tariff plan, the fate of other foreign vehicles is up in the air.

The CES audience was presented with the Signature AFEELA 1a Sony and Honda brainchild, which debuted at CES this year with LiDAR cameras, touchless doors, and a Sony PlayStation 5 controller you can literally play games with. It’s already pretty good with a six-figure price tag.