If you are considering purchasing a next-generation graphics card, it is better to do so sooner rather than later. Nvidia and AMD are reportedly ramping up production and shipping upcoming GPUs to avoid the new Import Tariffs from the Trump administration, which could drive prices up by as much as 40%.
The two rival tech giants, along with other affected companies, are rushing to bring products into the US before January 20, the date when Trump’s new Import Tariffs are expected to take effect. Trump plans to impose tariffs of 10% to 20% on imported goods, while goods from China will face a special 60% tariff. Their goal is to bring manufacturing back to the US.
Manufacturers will certainly pass some of these new costs on to consumers in the form of higher retail prices. This means that products such as laptops, smartphones, monitors, desktops, and TVs—most of which are primarily manufactured in China—will become more expensive.
While Nvidia and AMD use TSMC and Samsung for chip production, the assembly and packaging of their graphics cards—including cooling systems, PCBs, and other components—is often handled by Chinese companies such as Foxconn or BYD. AIB partners like Asus, MSI, Gigabyte, and Zotac also perform much of their assembly in China.
According to Ctee, GPU manufacturers are rushing to ensure their products reach US warehouses before January 20.
Nvidia is expected to launch its RTX 5000 series at CES in just over a week, while AMD will introduce the Radeon 9000 series. These Import Tariffs could significantly increase the retail prices of these next-generation cards. For example, if Nvidia’s flagship RTX 5090 card has a rumored MSRP of $1,799, a 40% price hike due to the new tariffs would push that figure above $2,500.
Manufacturers are attempting to stockpile inventory in the US before January 20 to avoid passing the tariff increases on to customers, as a sudden price spike will undoubtedly impact demand. However, companies will not be able to avoid price increases indefinitely.
It is not just graphics cards; many other products could become more expensive due to Import Tariffs. A recent report from the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) states that laptop prices could rise by up to 45%. Smartphone costs are expected to increase by 25.8%, while monitors are predicted to rise by 31.2%, and gaming consoles could become 40% more expensive.
