With rates changing rapidly, it’s hard to know how Trump’s tariffs will affect the price of gadgets like smartphones and PCs. Stay on top of things with our up-to-date chronology of events.
The tariff drama has left companies big and small wondering what tomorrow will bring. A reprieve from potentially devastating taxes or another arbitrary increase? We have some tips for how consumers can navigate the tariff situation, but how did we get here?
It started before Trump took office a second time, with threats of tariffs on countries the president believes are taking advantage of the US. His approach has splintered relationships with key allies like Canada, though the White House claims dozens of countries are ready to make a deal. In the meantime, electronics manufacturers are hustling to stockpile products in the US before the latest tariff delay expires.
If you’ve struggled to keep up, here’s a rundown of the tariff mayhem, which we’ll keep updated as things progress. Start at the bottom and scroll up for a play-by-play.APRILApril 2312 States Sue to Stop Trump’s ‚Insane Tariff Scheme‘
The coalition of Democratic attorneys general, led by Arizona and Oregon, argue that Trump is abusing a law meant to deal with ‚extraordinary threats‘ during national emergencies.Trump Hints He’ll Lower China Tariffs
After retail CEOs warned President Trump that tariffs could lead to „empty shelves“, the president is signaling he’s ready to lower the tariff rate in an effort to de-escalate his trade war with China. “145% is very high, and it won’t be that high,” Trump told a reporter after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the US trade war with China is unsustainable. “It’ll come down substantially, but it won’t be zero.”
In the Oval Office later in the day, Trump was asked when he would lower the tariffs on China. „That depends on them“, he said, adding that the US has been „ripped off for years and years by every country in the world, practically. We’re not doing that anymore.“April 21Trump to Meet With Retail Giants to Talk Tariffs
Trump is meeting with execs from Home Depot, Lowe’s, Target, and Walmart today to talk about the impact of his planned tariffs, Bloomberg reports. In a Sunday Truth Social post, Trump said „many World Leaders and Business Executives have come to me asking for relief from Tariffs. It’s good to see that the World knows we are serious, because WE ARE!
„They must right the wrongs of decades of abuse, but it won’t be easy for them“, he added. „We must rebuild the Wealth of our Great Country, and create true RECIPROCITY. But for those who want the easiest path: Come to America, and build in America!“
In a separate post, he argued that „Transshipping to EVADE Tariffs!!!“ is „non-tariff cheating.“
spends Delivery of Cheaper Packages
DHL Express says it will temporarily suspend shipment of packages to American consumers worth more than $800. As of April 5, „all shipments to the US with a declared customs value over USD 800 require formal entry processing—down from the previous USD 2,500 threshold due to new US Customs regulations. This change has caused a surge in formal customs clearances, which we are handling around the clock“, DHL says. Business-to-business (B2B) shipments to US companies are not affected but could still be delayed, it says.April 20Retro Gaming Company Suspends China-to-US Shipments
Retro handheld maker Anbernic is suspending all orders from China to the US „due to changes in US tariff policies.“ On its website, Anbernic lets you choose where your order comes from; as Gizmodo notes, the US warehouses often have less of a selection but will arrive sooner. „We strongly recommend prioritizing products shipped from our US warehouse, which are currently not affected by import duties and can be purchased with confidence“, Anbernic says in its notice.
„If you have already encountered any customs fees during this transitional period, please do not hesitate to contact us—we will work with you to find a suitable solution“, it added. „As soon as we receive confirmed updates regarding import duties, we will promptly inform our customers and publish our revised policy on the website.“
Anbernic’s RG351P Linux-based handheld is among PCMag’s picks for best retro gaming handhelds. It’s currently only shipping from China, however.
April 17Temu, Shein to Raise Prices
In response to the tariffs, and Trump axing a loophole that kept orders under $800 duty-free, both Chinese e-commerce providers plan to raise prices effective Friday, April 25. The good news is that both e-commerce providers appear to have built up inventories to serve US customers over the next week at existing prices, so if you’ve been eyeing something, buy now.April 16245% Tariffs on China? No, Just a White House Messaging Flub
A poorly worded fact sheet spooks the industry and the market.April 14US: Actually, Semiconductors Still Face a ‚Special‘ Type of Tariff
According to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, the exemption for smartphones and other electronics isn’t really an exemption. Instead. Trump plans to include them in separate „special“ tariffs for semiconductor, which are coming in a „month or so.“Nvidia to Build Supercomputer Factories in Texas
Nvidia teams up with Foxconn and Taiwan-based Wistron for factories in Houston and Dallas, respectively. They will be used to build AI supercomputers and test chips from Taiwan’s TSMC, with mass production ramping up in the next 12-15 months, Nvidia says. However, the announcement doesn’t mention US-based manufacturing for consumer-grade GPUs, which are mostly produced in China.
