Possible Price Increases for USA

Last November I wrote this post asking whether US consumers would see price increases in 2025. Back then, we did not have any sense of what kind of tariffs the US would introduce, but last week, we got the full list and numbers. Sony will not be alone in raising prices with competitors also likely increasing prices.

If anyone from Sony wishes to comment on any potential price increases, you can contact me via the contact page.

My information is based on this and this.

The US already had 10% tariffs on China in February, which went up to 20% in early March. Then on April 2nd, the US announced reciprocal tariffs, which will go into force on April 9th. The new 34% tariff on China, will be on top of the existing 20%:

Among those steeper levies, the U.S. will now charge a 34 percent tax on imports from China, a 20 percent tax on imports from the European Union, 24 percent on Japan and 32. The new tariffs come on top of previously-imposed levies, including the 20 percent tax Trump announced on all Chinese imports earlier this year.

The 34% tariff was already pretty high, but at 54%, this is ridiculous, and I do not foresee Sony absorbing such an increase. Perhaps 10-15%, maybe 20% tops, but no chance anything above 25%.

Here is the list of tariffs for countries where Sony manufacturers its products:

• China - 54% (Update looks like the tariff will now be 104% starting Wednesday, April 9th)
• Vietnam - 46%
• Thailand - 36%
  
• Malaysia - 24%
• Japan - 24%

And now here is the list of devices and their place of origin:

• China
• ULT Wear
• WF-1000XM5
• WH-CH720N 
• WF-C510
• NW-A300
• NW-ZX700
• NW-WM1ZM2
  
• Vietnam
• WF-C710N
• LinkBuds Open
• LinkBuds Fit
• WH-CH520
• WF-C510
  
• Malaysia
• WH-1000XM5
• WH-1000XM6 
• NW-WM1Z
• Thailand
• IER-M7
• IER-M9 
• MDR-MV1
• MDR-M1ST
• MDR-M1
• Japan 
• IER-ZR1
• MDR-M1ST
  

If I missed anything, please add them in the comments. In my previous post, I made the mistake of adding the tariff increase to the MSRP. This is incorrect. This is because the cost quoted at the port, is not MSRP, but a much lower cost. Then the price goes up for MSRP, so Sony and retailers have a profit margin.

Unfortunately, we do not know the actual cost at the port, but some of Sony's devices have been discounted up to 50% on Amazon, so if they are still earning a profit, it means that the actual cost at the port is much lower than 50% of MSRP for most models.

The biggest effect will be on devices from China and Vietnam, with the Malaysian imports less so. But Malaysia is where Sony's WH-1000XM5 and upcoming WH-1000XM6 are made, so even with a 24% tariff, there will be price increases.

Products already in the US, should not have any price increases, as they are not subject to the new tariffs, but that might not stop companies from increases prices. Once the tariffs are in place, I suspect we will see some price increases, if not, then either no discounts or smaller discounts during sales.

Not listed is the WF-1000XM6, which so far has not appeared on any certification or import site. Whether it will be released this year is now up in the air. A certification could drop any day now, but if nothing appears in the next 2 weeks, I do not think we will see the new model before end of the 25H1.

I am unaware how tariffs will be applied to used products, but I suspect it will be the same. This means imported used devices, via Ebay or other marketplaces, could still be subject to the tariffs. Same rules will apply when purchasing devices from different lower tariff countries. The point of origin, so "Made in ...." is how the tariff is applied, not country of sale.

The tariffs could end up being short lived and removed with a few months, but somehow I am not that hopeful.