If you already think PS5 Pro is overpriced, then it could be about to get even more expensive in the US – and potentially through no fault of Sony’s own.
Gizmodo reports that, following Donald Trump’s election victory earlier this week, he could impose tariffs of up to 60% on Chinese exports once he assumes office in January next year.
That could push the price of consoles up by as much as 40% according to a study, making the all-new PS5 Pro almost $1,000. It’d also spike the price of other electronics, like laptops, monitors, and more.
It’s worth noting that Trump had a similar policy during his previous presidency, but the tech industry successfully negotiated an exemption for electronics, and the same could theoretically occur again.
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Trump broadly wants to spur an increase in US manufacturing. His plan is to introduce a 10% to 20% tariff on goods from other countries, and a 60% tariff on goods from China.
But it’s important to note these tariffs are not paid by the country exporting the goods, but instead those importing the items. It’s highly likely, then, the costs would be passed on to the consumer, making products like games consoles more expensive than they currently are.
While it’s a concerning outlook, it’s perhaps important to underline that all of this is hypothesis based purely on policy and the potential outcome it could cause.
However, Ed Brzytwa, the CTA of International Trade, summed things up in an interview with Tom’s Hardware: “Tariffs are regressive taxes that Americans pay. They’re not paid by a foreign government. They’re taxes that importers in the United States pay and foreign governments and foreign countries do not pay those tariffs. So when I say they’re regressive, it means that they harm poor people and people of little means more than they harm wealthy people.”
As the Editor of Push Square, Sammy has over 15 years of experience analysing the world of PlayStation,
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