Importers & Exporters Top 100 2025
Amplified uncertainty
US tariffs threaten‘ refresh wave’ of US electronics sales, imports
By William B. Cassidy
US electronics importers are still riding waves of replenishment after a boom in imports last year, but US tariffs already are affecting the costs consumers will pay.
The Trump administration’ s tariffs will challenge growth and likely raise costs for consumers despite exclusions from tariffs for several electronic products, including laptops and smartphones manufactured in China.
The array of tariffs facing US trading partners has electronic manufacturers rethinking pricing and rollouts given how dependent they are on the Chinese market.
The White House is considering a new tariff on products containing semiconductors, which are used in everything from automotive engines to computers and phones to the fancier range of espresso makers.
The uncertainty created by proposed tariffs that remain undefined plays an even bigger part in deliberations about whether to push the“ pause” button on imports or move ahead.
The delayed launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 gaming console provides an early example.
For a brief time, fans of Mario, Luigi and Donkey Kong thought they might have to pay more and wait longer for the new gaming console, a critical product for Japan-based Nintendo. The company initially scheduled pre-orders for the Switch 2 to begin on April 9 but delayed the order launch until April 24 due to uncertainty the tariffs have caused.
On April 18, Nintendo said Switch 2 pricing would remain unchanged at $ 499.99 per unit, but prices for some accessories will be adjusted due to“ changes in market conditions.”
Those changes are the uncertainty of US tariffs. On April 2, President Donald Trump imposed a 24 % reciprocal tariff on goods from Japan, but that levy was suspended for 90 days on April 9.
Electronics
IMPORTS
1,787,993 TEUs
↑9.4 %
Change from 2023
↑4.8 %
5-year compound annual growth rate
Building what your customers need.
Port Houston is investing in infrastructure to increase capacity and improve efficiency. Our Bayport Container Terminal now accomodates 15,000 – 17,000 TEU ships, we are constructing wharves and container yard space at the terminals, and we are also expanding the Houston Ship Channel to improve safety and navigation in the nation ' s busiest waterway. Get your cargo to your customers faster by choosing Port Houston.
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www. joc. com May 5, 2025 | Journal of Commerce 37