PCs and Smartphones May Be Exempt from Trump’s Tariffs, But Consoles Like PS5 May Not

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Update [Mon, April 14, 2025, 12:15 PM]: Just moments after publishing this article, U.S. President Donald Trump hinted at a firm stance on tariffs regarding electronics, indicating no exceptions will be made.

Indeed, he asserted that the reports were incorrect and instead, they’re transitioning to a new pricing category.

He mentioned that the focus of the forthcoming National Security Trade Probes will be on semiconductors and the broader electronics manufacturing process.

It appears that computers, smartphones, and game consoles might share a similar category, but it’s quite challenging to accurately understand the current situation.

Once we receive more information regarding the implications for PS5 and the broader gaming industry, we will share updates promptly.

Discussing the tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump of the United States is similar to attempting to hit a rapidly shifting target with an arrow; the policies are constantly evolving, even changing several times daily.

While the potential effects of these new taxes could significantly alter the gaming world, it’s crucial that we keep everyone informed about the present circumstances, understanding that this developing issue may necessitate further discussions and updates.

The most recent update indicates that PCs and smartphones may be spared tariffs, while devices such as the PS5 will not. Whether this discrepancy is due to an oversight or a deliberate decision remains uncertain, but we’re optimistic for clarity as time goes on.

Trump has recently reversed several of his previous policies, including a temporary halt on tariffs from key nations, which are now suspended for a period of 90 days.

On the other hand, retaliation against China has led them to propose tariffs of up to 145% on products they produce, such as various electronics like video game consoles and related gear.

In its strategic planning, Sony has taken steps to protect itself from tariffs by increasing its supply chain and storing a larger number of PS5 consoles in the U.S. before the tariffs were implemented. This action should give the company some breathing room to observe how the situation develops further.

Currently, it’s been reported that console prices in Europe are going up, due to the “tough economic conditions”.

The future events in this narrative are hard to predict due to its unpredictable nature so far. It appears that the tariffs might be lessened, with computers and smartphones being spared, which makes us think the video game industry may request similar exemptions.

However, all this turmoil is placing immense pressure on an economy that’s already under stress, making it seem unavoidable that costs will escalate across the globe.

We’ll keep you updated.

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2025-04-14 14:37