Trump's tariffs force laptop makers like Dell and Lenovo to halt US shipments

[Alfonso Maruccia]

What just happened? The technology business is feeling the first massive consequences of import tariffs introduced by Donald Trump. If industry sources are to be believed, Washington's new policy just forced some of the world's largest laptop manufacturers to delay shipments to the US.

According to Taiwan sources quoted by Commercial Times, Lenovo, Dell, HP, and other laptop manufacturers will stop sending new devices to the US for at least two weeks. Technology and consumer electronics businesses are being hit hard by the tariffs imposed by Trump, even though the US president has recently paused the majority of these additional levies for 90 days except for a 10 percent baseline global tariff. However, tariffs against China are now at 145 percent according to White House sources.

Earlier this week, Razer and Framework decided to halt sales in the US and cancel preorders for new laptops. Micron is raising prices of SSDs and other memory products, while Chinese sellers on Amazon are being forced to significantly increase prices or abandon their US sale prospects altogether.

Industry insider sources are now forecasting a significant drop in revenue in April, with laptops, smartphones, and network equipment suffering the worst effects of Trump's tariffs.

Before Trump decided to pause the enforcement of "reciprocal tariffs" for three months, Taiwan was hit with a 32 percent levy.

The US president is definitely acting fast and breaking things, which means companies are forced to adapt to increasingly uncertain conditions in the global market. Trump's tariffs now have their own, heavily edited Wikipedia page.

Taiwan sources are lamenting the confusion surrounding the US economy and tariffs, and many organizations are taking a wait-and-see approach for the time being. Some laptop and component manufacturers are seemingly reaching their biggest customers in the US, seeking a "tariff-sharing" cooperation plan to try and reduce the impact of the new levies.

Other manufacturers, including those working in the passive component business, said they still plan to ship their products in line with the previously decided schedule. Meanwhile, Chinese security company Qihoo 360 said that new shipments are halted, but its US subsidiary should have enough supplies for now.

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Trump's tariffs force laptop makers like Dell and Lenovo to halt US shipments

 

[BogdanR]

How many times can people shoot themselves in the foot and either pretend it doesn’t hurt, or the hurt is absolutely necessary?

Thomas Friedmann has said it better than I ever could:

“When you have a country as big as China — 1.4 billion people — with the talent, infrastructure and savings it has, the only way to negotiate is with leverage on our side of the table. And the best way to get leverage would have been for Trump to enlist our allies in the European Union, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Brazil, Vietnam, Canada, Mexico, India, Australia and Indonesia into a united front. Make it a negotiation of the whole world versus China.”

“Then you say to Beijing: All of us will gradually raise our tariffs on your exports over the next two years to pressure you to shift from your export economy to a more domestic-oriented one. But we will also invite you to build factories and supply chains in our countries — 50-50 joint ventures — to transfer your expertise back to us the way you compelled us to do for you. We don’t want a bifurcated world. It will be less prosperous for all and less stable.”

“But instead of making it the whole industrial world against China, Trump made it America against the whole industrial world and China.”

“Now, Beijing knows that Trump not only blinked, but he so alienated our allies, so demonstrated that his word cannot be trusted for a second, that many of them may never align with us against China in the same way. They may, instead, see China as a better, more stable long-term partner than us.”

“What a pathetic, shameful performance. Happy Liberation Day.“

 

[dirtyferret]

"Trump made it America against the whole industrial world and China.”

“What a pathetic, shameful performance. Happy Liberation Day.“

trump is not an intelligent person. Just ask his very own former chief of staff, secretary of state, national security advisor, chairman of the joint chief of staffs and attorney general. These aren't "libtards" or "never trumpers" or "fake news" people. These are the people he choose as "only the best of the best" who stated he's dumb as rock.

he is also not a good business person as his boat load of business failures, six bankruptcies, constant losses in court due to business practices and the bankers who refuse to ever work with him can all attest to. In fact if he invested his inheritance instead of squandering it failed real estate dealing he would be far wealthier than he is today. He gets by doing the one thing he is good at, marketing his name.

So us against the world makes sense. You expect a guy who uses the word "bigly" to understand the impact of tariffs on global economics? If you had a professor in business school lecture you the way trump talks about business would people in the class not be looking at each other going "this guy is clueless, we want our money back"?

 

[kira setsu]

People here in NC voted for this nonsense, one of Lenovo's hq's is here, these dumb sob's voted themselves into unemployment.

 

[gamerk2]

People here in NC voted for this nonsense, one of Lenovo's hq's is here, these dumb sob's voted themselves into unemployment.

"But it won't affect me."

 

[Mike Sc]

People here in NC voted for this nonsense, one of Lenovo's hq's is here, these dumb sob's voted themselves into unemployment.

They're fine with that as long as drag performers aren't allowed to read in libraries.

 

[Squid Surprise]

But he's making Murica great again!

 

[computerbub]

People here in NC voted for this nonsense, one of Lenovo's hq's is here, these dumb sob's voted themselves into unemployment.

Lenovo is a garbage tier company that deserves to be acquired again.

 

[maxxcool7421]

Just eating this popcorn watching amerika burn

 

[SRB]

I find it interesting how everyone looks and comments about this problem. Does anyone stop and think as to WHY this is such a problem and so painful? What everyone here is saying is "Why are you trying to fix this? Don't you realize it's already too late, and they have had the ability to shut down the largest economy in the world for a while?" Why not just let them do MORE manufacturing for us. If we don't produce any steel, aluminum, or durable goods, we'll have more time to enjoy our lives. What's wrong if we design the chips, and let them make ALL of them?

This is as short sighted as it is ignorant. Perhaps that's why a fair amount of "Americans" don't seem to have a problem with communism, since it won't be long before they have control, and we should be getting ready for the inevitable, not fighting it.

 

[BogdanR]

I find it interesting how everyone looks and comments about this problem. Does anyone stop and think as to WHY this is such a problem and so painful? What everyone here is saying is "Why are you trying to fix this? Don't you realize it's already too late, and they have had the ability to shut down the largest economy in the world for a while?" Why not just let them do MORE manufacturing for us. If we don't produce any steel, aluminum, or durable goods, we'll have more time to enjoy our lives. What's wrong if we design the chips, and let them make ALL of them?

This is as short sighted as it is ignorant. Perhaps that's why a fair amount of "Americans" don't seem to have a problem with communism, since it won't be long before they have control, and we should be getting ready for the inevitable, not fighting it.

Maybe you should actually read the comments instead of calling people ignorant?

 

[Squid Surprise]

I find it interesting how everyone looks and comments about this problem. Does anyone stop and think as to WHY this is such a problem and so painful? What everyone here is saying is "Why are you trying to fix this? Don't you realize it's already too late, and they have had the ability to shut down the largest economy in the world for a while?" Why not just let them do MORE manufacturing for us. If we don't produce any steel, aluminum, or durable goods, we'll have more time to enjoy our lives. What's wrong if we design the chips, and let them make ALL of them?

This is as short sighted as it is ignorant. Perhaps that's why a fair amount of "Americans" don't seem to have a problem with communism, since it won't be long before they have control, and we should be getting ready for the inevitable, not fighting it.

Yes, we’d love to fix it - read up in the comments to see some suggestions that might NOT destroy your economy…

Fixing this is not what Trump is trying to do… APPEARING to fix it is what he’s trying to do - albeit poorly - while enriching himself and his allies, and stroking his ego…

 

[trieste1s]

They're fine with that as long as drag performers aren't allowed to read in libraries.

Sad to see the USA come to this point, that something as disgusting as drag performers reading to children is actually more palatable than Trump's shenanigans. You guys are caught between... you know, the usual idiom.

 

[Squid Surprise]

Sad to see the USA come to this point, that something as disgusting as drag performers reading to children is actually more palatable than Trump's shenanigans. You guys are caught between... you know, the usual idiom.

Why would you care who reads to children?

 

[Tomox]

trump is not an intelligent person. Just ask his very own former chief of staff, secretary of state, national security advisor, chairman of the joint chief of staffs and attorney general. These aren't "libtards" or "never trumpers" or "fake news" people. These are the people he choose as "only the best of the best" who stated he's dumb as rock.

he is also not a good business person as he's boat load of business failures, six bankruptcies, constant losses in court due to business practices and the bankers who refuse to ever work with him can all attest to. In fact if he invested his inheritance instead of squandered it failed real estate dealing he would be far wealthier than he is today. He gets by doing the one thing he is good at, marketing his name.

So us against the world makes sense. You expect a guy who uses the word "bigly" to understand the impact of tariffs on global economics? If you had a professor in business school lecture you the way trump talks about business would people in the class not be looking at each other going "this guy is clueless, we want our money back"?

He's not dumb, he's just playing dumb with this tariff bs. This is blatant market manipulation.

 

[SmarterThanU]

"But it won't affect me."

doesn't affect me, well it does in that it's good to have less tech waste which helps climate change. American companies should make in America, and we pay the higher costs as living wages to Americans so they can "live the american dream". Relying on china and other countries lower costs due to slave wages and poor living conditions of their workers (have you seen the shein/temu factories? horrendous) means you don't care about other humans nor America.

 

[SmarterThanU]

So happy to see less waste and less people ordering crap they don't need, further spurring global warming and climate change. People just order cheap crap and got used to it, not realizing the slave-like living conditions of the countries you're ordering from. Instead, make Dell and others put their factories in America so the taxes go to making America better, and get used to paying what YOU want to be paid, which means higher costs around the board, but it goes to AMERICAN FAMILIES and not how you like it now, aka "lets support china and everyone else" . that's the problem.

 

[AlexIL]

Dell is US company if they were producing in US tariffs wouldn't hit them. Otherwise Dell is Chinese company. Couldn't care less.

 

[Squid Surprise]

So happy to see less waste and less people ordering crap they don't need, further spurring global warming and climate change. People just order cheap crap and got used to it, not realizing the slave-like living conditions of the countries you're ordering from. Instead, make Dell and others put their factories in America so the taxes go to making America better, and get used to paying what YOU want to be paid, which means higher costs around the board, but it goes to AMERICAN FAMILIES and not how you like it now, aka "lets support china and everyone else" . that's the problem.

Yeah... but the entire capitalist system depends on people continuing to consume - they're gonna do it regardless of the prices... they'll just have less to eat thanks to higher prices...

Dell is US company if they were producing in US tariffs wouldn't hit them. Otherwise Dell is Chinese company. Couldn't care less.

Yeah... but it's too expensive to do that - you really think factories grow on trees? By the time one got built in the US (won't happen, but hey, may as well dream), Trump will be long out of office.

 

[BogdanR]

Yeah... but the entire capitalist system depends on people continuing to consume - they're gonna do it regardless of the prices... they'll just have less to eat thanks to higher prices...

Yeah... but it's too expensive to do that - you really think factories grow on trees? By the time one got built in the US (won't happen, but hey, may as well dream), Trump will be long out of office.

And after you build the said factory you’ll need qualified people to handle the production lines. Yes the plants would be highly automated indeed but some things still need to be done by qualified humans and these qualified people are now very, very few. Try hiring a decent maintenance millwright or electrician. Or a good robot technician? Industrial plumber? Any kind of skilled trades people are pretty scarce and a lot of them are nearing retirement. I’m a senior automation engineer with 30 years of North American automotive experience. That’s the reality out there.

 

[kiwigraeme]

Can someone tell me what a supply chain is like I'm 5 years old or Senile with dementia?

China , TSMC , any big complex product has lots of Supply chains and logistics

One of the reasons Japan did well 1960s onwards were the supply chains , lots of small specialised companies

Some GOP leader stated tariffs are what children need and not toys. Try and find many many things in your house not toys that are made in China

Actually maybe it's me that is wrong, Trump did his usual Cabinet meeting where they all took turns praising the Dear Leader, Seek it out would bring tears to even a North Koreans eyes. nearly ran out to buy an Old Glory to fly and have my family do the daily pledge of allegiance as wont to see if my USA travels

 

[BogdanR]

Can someone tell me what a supply chain is like I'm 5 years old or Senile with dementia?

In Automotive it works in Tiers.
The OEM’s, like GM, Toyota, VAG, Ford and so on are at the very top of the chain, they handle final assembly.

Next are Tier 1 suppliers which make subassemblies or components which are going into the final car assembly as they are within no modifications. For instance transmissions, engines, body panels, doors, seats, steering systems, electrical harness and so on.

Next are Tier 2 suppliers who provide parts and components for Tier 1 companies. Frames, cables, stamped, forged, injection moulded or cast parts, tires, bushings, bearings, you name it.

And then the last ones are Tier 3 suppliers who provide raw materials and hardware like rubber, steel, aluminum, nuts, bolts, fluids and more.

All of those are highly integrated and sometimes suppliers can be Tier 1 for some things and Tier 2 for other. They are also spread throughout the whole world, for instance bearings may come from Germany or Japan or Sweden or China or God knows where. Same with car batteries, timing belts, tensioners, crankshaft bolts and so on.

The company I work for for instance has plants in Canada, South America, China, Europe… all geared towards the respective markets, employing local people and using local Tier suppliers as possible. Each location is highly integrated in that particular region.

 

[kiwigraeme]

In Automotive it works in Tiers.
The OEM’s, like GM, Toyota, VAG, Ford and so on are at the very top of the chain, they handle final assembly.

Next are Tier 1 suppliers which make subassemblies or components which are going into the final car assembly as they are within no modifications. For instance transmissions, engines, body panels, doors, seats, steering systems, electrical harness and so on.

Next are Tier 2 suppliers who provide parts and components for Tier 1 companies. Frames, cables, stamped or cast parts, tires, bushings, bearings, you name it.

And then the last ones are Tier 3 suppliers who provide raw materials and hardware like rubber, steel, aluminum, nuts, bolts, fluids and more.

All of those are highly integrated and sometimes suppliers can be Tier 1 for some things and Tier 2 for other. They are also spread throughout the whole world, for instance bearings may come from Germany or Japan or Sweden or China or God knows where. Same with car batteries, timing belts, tensioners, crankshaft bolts and so on.

The company I work for for instance has plants in Canada, South America, China, Europe… all geared towards the respective markets, employing local people and using local Tier suppliers as possible. Each location is highly integrated in that particular region.

Didn't actually think someone would answer that, I actually learnt some stuff like the tiers
all I learnt at school was primary , secondary and tertiary industries

So thanks, part of me always wanted to be a project engineer, it's like a board game coming to life with social interactions built in
When I contracted in London between travels - I had to resolve messes, or one instant put together daily reports from segregated and non- segregated funds from a trading company . So had to get stuff in a timely manner from sister companies trading on say DAC or from other departments, at end of my stint had great working relationships, only ever once CC in line manager in all my tempting, Used to crack me up listening to another worker say ring Paris - Hello , we need those reports NOW - like that is going to work

5 year olds have good comprehension where you live