Trump's Tariffs Impact PC Hardware: Razer Gaming Laptop Pulled from Market

The import tariffs imposed by former U.S. President Trump are once again affecting U.S. gamers, this time impacting Razer's Blade 16 gaming laptop. Tariffs are taxes levied on imported goods, and while companies might absorb these costs, they are typically passed on to consumers, potentially increasing the prices of tech and gaming products.

Due to these tariffs, Razer has temporarily pulled the Blade 16 from sale in the U.S. As reported by The Verge, the laptop, which was available for purchase as recently as April 1, is no longer listed on Razer's website. While European gamers can still order the laptop (subject to stock availability), the U.S. site now only offers a "Notify Me" option without any pricing information. Attempting to access the Buy Now page results in a 404 error.

Razer isn't the only company affected; other firms such as Micron, a memory manufacturer, have warned of potential surcharges due to tariffs on components from China and Taiwan. Similarly, PC company Framework has "temporarily paused" some of its U.S. sales.

The impact of these tariffs extends beyond Razer. Last week, the pre-order date for the Nintendo Switch 2, initially set for April 9, was removed in the United States following the financial market turbulence caused by these tariffs. The issue soon spread to Canada, with Nintendo Canada confirming delays in pre-orders. This has led to concerns among Nintendo fans and analysts that the price of the Switch 2 and its games might increase further, especially given the backlash to the console's pricing after its reveal.

For more information, be sure to check out everything announced at the Switch 2 Nintendo Direct.