Gaming PCs and components look set to jump in price in the US as import tariff exclusions come to an end

HardwareGaming PCs and components look set to jump in price in the US as import tariff exclusions come to an endWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

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(Image credit: Future)

Zotac RTX 4080 Super Amp Extreme Airo

If you’re a US-based PC gamer and you’ve been holding off upgrading your rig, you might want to think again, as prices for graphics cards, motherboards, and even PC cases, are set to see a big bump in their prices. Depending on the item, the increase could be as much as 25%, which could make getting a new GPUveryexpensive.

Back in 2018, the US Trade Representative (USTR)issued a reportin which it declared that “acts, policies, and practices of the Government of China related to technology transfer, intellectual property, and innovation were unreasonable or discriminatory, and burdened or restricted U.S. commerce.” The result of which were import tariffs on a raft of products that were manufactured or assembled in China, including all kinds of PC components and peripherals.

However, in 2022, the current US administrationcreated a list of exclusionsfor 350 products (graphics cards and motherboards being two such cases), intending to give the industry sufficient time to shift as much of the upstream supply chain and assembly duties as possible outside of China.

At the moment, neither the USTR nor the White House have officially stated that they will reinstate all tariffs nor provided any indication as to when it could happen. But as the US heads toward a presidential election in November, there’s a good chance the current administration will implement a raft of tariffs to generate a sense of having control over its markets, even if that means increases in prices for the consumer.

Less complex parts, e.g. keyboards, mice, and PC cases, are almost exclusively assembled in China, and it’s very hard to find anything for a gaming PC that’s entirely built outside of that particular country.

The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals

Your next upgrade(Image credit: Future)Best CPU for gaming: The top chips from Intel and AMD.Best gaming motherboard: The right boards.Best graphics card: Your perfect pixel-pusher awaits.Best SSD for gaming: Get into the game ahead of the rest.

Your next upgrade

(Image credit: Future)Best CPU for gaming: The top chips from Intel and AMD.Best gaming motherboard: The right boards.Best graphics card: Your perfect pixel-pusher awaits.Best SSD for gaming: Get into the game ahead of the rest.

(Image credit: Future)

Nvidia RTX 4070 and RTX 3080 Founders Edition graphics cards

Best CPU for gaming: The top chips from Intel and AMD.Best gaming motherboard: The right boards.Best graphics card: Your perfect pixel-pusher awaits.Best SSD for gaming: Get into the game ahead of the rest.

So it might be worth looking around now to see what deals are available. Fortunately,Memorial Dayis just around the corner and that could be the ideal time to get some new parts before it all gets silly with prices. At the very least, it will probably mean some brands will end up being a lot more expensive than others, which will narrow your choices down somewhat.

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