Trump tariff plan could trigger 68 percent drop in U.S. laptop and tablet sales

The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) says the U.S. tech industry is on track to earn about $537 billion in 2025, a 3.2 percent increase from 2024. However, new tariff policies, which could seriously limit people's buying ability, might hamper this growth.

CTA’s latest study says these tariffs could cut consumer tech purchases by a relatively large amount—somewhere between $90 billion and $143 billion. The data shows certain gadgets might get hit harder than others, with laptop and tablet sales possibly sinking by as much as 68 percent, gaming consoles taking a 58 percent tumble, and smartphone purchases dropping by 37 percent.

Under the proposed plan, general imports would get a 10 percent to 20 percent tariff, Chinese goods would get slapped with an extra 60 percent tariff, and products from Canada and Mexico would face a 25 percent tariff. That could mean some pretty hefty price hikes:

• Laptops and tablets: Up 45 percent
• Gaming consoles: Up 45 percent
• Monitors: Up 31 percent
• Smartphones: Up 26 percent

Gary Shapiro, the CTA CEO, stressed that tech plays a significant economic role. He said the forecast still suggests strong growth, but these tariffs jeopardise tech’s usual deflationary effects on the world. Meanwhile, CTA’s research questions the idea that domestic manufacturing will make a comeback—arguing it’ll more likely move to cheaper regions instead of heading back to North America.

Ed Brzytwa, the CTA’s VP of Trade, warned about how trading partners might respond, which could disrupt supply chains and cause U.S. industries to lose their edge. These insights come straight from CTA’s U.S. Consumer Technology One-Year Industry Forecast, which pulls together insights from industry experts, CTA members, and various data sources.