NVIDIA and AMD are taking exceptional measures to ship their next-generation GPUs to U.S. warehouses in China to avoid a significant tariff increase expected under the Trump administration. These measures aim to limit the financial impact of these trade policies on their products.
Unusual anticipation of deliveries
According to recent reports, both manufacturers are forcing their production partners, called AIB (Add-In Board), to ship next-generation graphics cards to US markets much earlier than expected. These actions aim to circumvent price increases of up to 40%, expected from January 20, 2025, the date of the presidential inauguration. This acceleration in production and deliveries is unusual, especially at the start of the cycle, where stocks are traditionally limited.
Anticipated production to avoid price increases
Reports indicate that production of these GPUs began as early as December, in a coordinated effort to get the units to US markets before the new tariffs were implemented. These measures also aim to protect manufacturers’ margins on the first units put on sale, while prices are expected to increase significantly after the taxes come into force.
The proposed tariffs include a 10% tax on imports from countries other than China, and a 60% tax on those from China. Given that the majority of consumer GPUs are manufactured in China, an overall price increase of 40% or more is anticipated. This context is also pushing other technology companies, such as Microsoft, Dell and HP, to accelerate their production.
An impact on GPUs in France?
Although recommended retail prices (MSRPs) for upcoming GPUs from NVIDIA and AMD are not yet official, estimates place the GeForce RTX 5090 at around $1,799. With an additional 40%, the price could exceed $2,500. This increase could not only shake up the market for new GPUs, but also stimulate demand for more affordable used models.
However, we are not in the United States, so prices should be more acceptable in France, for once!
An almost inevitable price rise
While the pricing policy is not yet implemented, it is seen as imminent, and its impact on consumer prices seems inevitable. For manufacturers, these preventive actions help limit direct financial impacts, but for consumers, this could mean a marked increase in the cost of computer components, and increased pressure on the video games and PC hardware market.
