Monday, September 23rd 2019
A Reprieve: Select PC Hardware Exempt of Tariffs on Chinese Imports to the US
The US Trade Representative on Friday granted a reprieve to the increased tariffs being levied at China-imported electronic goods. The exemption, valid for one year until 20th August 2020, includes some products that will be welcome to PC hardware enthusiasts, including motherboards, graphics cards, desktop cases, "mouse input devices" valued over $70, "trackpad input units" valued at over $100, and power supply units that output more than 500 W.
The exempts have come as fruits of requests from US stakeholders in the hardware space; should imports be available only from China (meaning there are no alternate sources of said materials) or if the tariff could cause "severe economic harm", a temporary reprieve on the levies could be sought. And so the exempts were requested, and now granted. Prices paid before the announcement of the reprieve that included the added tax penalties are final; the exemption is only valid for orders after September 20th. This means the 25% increased rates (itself an increase on the initial 10%) on the tax basis are now frozen when it comes to the aforementioned hardware. This means companies no longer have to scramble to source their manufacturing to countries other than China, and that prices increased for end consumers on the basis of the tax increase are now meritless.
Sources:
Office of the Federal Register, PC MAG, TechRadar
The exempts have come as fruits of requests from US stakeholders in the hardware space; should imports be available only from China (meaning there are no alternate sources of said materials) or if the tariff could cause "severe economic harm", a temporary reprieve on the levies could be sought. And so the exempts were requested, and now granted. Prices paid before the announcement of the reprieve that included the added tax penalties are final; the exemption is only valid for orders after September 20th. This means the 25% increased rates (itself an increase on the initial 10%) on the tax basis are now frozen when it comes to the aforementioned hardware. This means companies no longer have to scramble to source their manufacturing to countries other than China, and that prices increased for end consumers on the basis of the tax increase are now meritless.
14 Comments on A Reprieve: Select PC Hardware Exempt of Tariffs on Chinese Imports to the US
"Power supplies suitable for physical incorporation into automatic data processing (ADP) machines or units thereof of heading 8471, each with a power output exceeding 500 W, measuring 148mm in length, 43 mm in width and 335 mm in height."
That's not an ATX power supply. Sounds more like a 2U or some other server PSU.
Tariffs were added to prices in the U.S. Prices in the U.S. went up. Now there's a repieve and you guys think they'll keep the difference to themselves? That's ridiculous.
www.anandtech.com/show/13567/seasonic-increases-msrps-of-psus-in-the-usok Jonny, well the new seasonic GX gold and PX platinum line just hit amazon a few weeks ago, a brand new PSU at $159.99 for 850w version. I'll report back in 3 weeks and see if they have lowered their prices any. and we will know for sure ;)
Current tariffs only impact U.S. prices. Prices didn't go up globally. The market is too much of a commodity market with too much competition; especially from companies OUTSIDE of the U.S.They won't because AFAIK, Seasonic doesn't make any PSUs that are measuring 148mm in length, 43 mm in width and 335 mm in height. :rolleyes:
IIRC Jonny now works for Corsair. Still knows a thing or two (maybe even three, he can count higher than me)