Razer Halts Direct Sales of Notebooks in the U.S. Amid Tariff Changes

In a significant turn of events for the tech industry, Razer has announced a pause on direct sales of its notebooks in the United States, following the implementation of new tariffs. This decision comes shortly after the Trump administration introduced extensive tariffs on components imported from China, Taiwan, and several other countries.

Reports indicate that Razer has suspended the availability of the Blade 16 and other notebook models for purchase directly through its website in the U.S. Just one day prior to the announcement of the tariffs, these products were still available for order.

When approached for comment regarding the reasons behind this decision, Razer provided a terse response, stating that the company had no further comments on the tariffs at this time. Currently, the only model still available for order in the U.S. is the Blade 14 (2024).

While Razer has chosen to remain reticent about its stance on the Trump tariffs, another tech company, Framework, had recently taken proactive measures by withdrawing some of its budget-friendly Laptop 13 models from sale. Framework explained that they had set their pricing before the imposition of tariffs on imports from Taiwan, and with a ten percent tariff now in effect, they would incur losses on entry-level devices if sold at previous prices.

Framework further revealed to IT media outlet 404 Media that other manufacturers were conducting similar analyses on their pricing structures due to the tariff implications, although many have opted not to publicly disclose their findings.

As of April 9, the tariffs introduced have led to a significant increase in costs for a variety of tech products, compelling companies to adjust their pricing strategies. For instance, Micron, a major memory manufacturer, has indicated plans to raise prices on certain memory products to counteract the increased costs arising from the new tariffs. Micron's manufacturing facilities are predominantly located in Asian countries such as China, Taiwan, Japan, Malaysia, and Singapore.

In addition to Razer and Framework, other tech entities are expected to follow suit, raising their prices as the effects of the tariffs ripple through the industry. Nintendo has already halted pre-orders for the Watch 2 in the U.S., while Apple stores are reportedly experiencing high customer traffic as consumers rush to purchase devices at pre-tariff prices.