AUTIN, TEXAS, United States — John Gutierrez had been thinking about buying a new laptop for the past year.
The Austin, Texas resident needed a computer with faster processing and increased
Customer Dave Scherer (wearing a cap) of Gresham City, Oregon, shops for a refrigerator at an appliance store on Thursday, the day after US President Donald Trump announced sweeping new tariffs taking effect by weekend. —AP
TEXAS, United States — John Gutierrez had been thinking about buying a new laptop for the past year.
The Austin, Texas resident needed a computer with faster processing and increased storage for his photography work and had his sights set on a product from a Taiwanese brand.
Then US President Donald Trump announced expansive new import tariffs on Wednesday, including a 32-percent tax on imports from Taiwan.
That same day, Gutierrez ordered the laptop, with a base price of $2,400, from a retailer in New York specializing in photo and video gear.
“I thought I’d bite the bullet, buy it now, and then that way I’ll have the latest technology on my laptop and don’t have to worry about the tariffs,” he said.
Gutierrez was among US consumers rushing to buy big-ticket items before the tariffs take effect from Saturday, April 5, to next Wednesday, April 9.
Economists say the tariffs are expected to increase prices for everyday items, warning of potentially weakened US economic growth.
