Today, the Consumer Technology Association (CTA)® kicks off its second annual Trade Week with the release of new data and member testimonials illustrating the cost of tariffs for American businesses and consumers.  

CTA’s Trade Week is one of Washington DC’s premier trade events, connecting CTA members with policymakers and agency leaders to share firsthand perspectives on how tariffs and trade policies affect their businesses. At a pivotal moment for U.S. and global trade, it highlights the link between American innovation and global trade, a pillar of CTA’s 2026 Innovation Agenda.

“Over the past year, businesses across the technology industry have faced challenges around uncertain and frequently shifting tariff rates,” said Kinsey Fabrizio, President & CEO, Consumer Technology Association. “Stories from CTA members and new data on the tariff burden brings that picture into sharper focus, showing new tariffs in 2025 added major costs for American businesses and upended sourcing and supply chains.”  

CTA’s Consumer Technology Industry Tariff Impact Snapshot highlights major new tariff burdens across the consumer technology industry, with rate increases in nearly every product category and the average tariff rate across the industry rising from 1% to 7% by the end of 2025. In total, consumer technology importers paid $23.5 billion in tariffs in 2025—more than five times the prior year ($4.04 billion). 

Tariff payments by consumer tech importers hit a recent monthly peak at $3.3 billion in October 2025. Despite slight declines through February 2026, tariff rates remain well above historical levels. The data underscores reports from companies that both current and proposed tariff policies create continued uncertainty and risk for businesses making production and sourcing plans. 

“Tariffs fuel inflation and make it harder for American businesses and consumers to produce and buy technology products,” said Gary Shapiro, Executive Chair, CTA. “Companies are pivoting, but intense focus from executives on frequent supply chain shifts and tariff compliance means less focus on innovation, growth and job creation.”  

Tariffs Driving Higher Costs Across Key Tech Categories 

CTA’s analysis shows the steepest tariff jumps for several high-demand product categories: 

• Gaming consoles: Average increase from 0% → 19%  

• Wireless headphones & earbuds: 0% → 19% 

• Smart home devices: 3% → 11%  

Companies Shift Global Sourcing Strategy: 

• Imports from China dropped sharply—from over half of U.S. consumer technology imports in 2023 to just 12% in 2026.  

• Vietnam is now a leading supplier, accounting for nearly a quarter of U.S. consumer technology imports.  

CTA Trade Week is a members-only event. For more information about CTA Trade Week, trade and tariff resources, or membership, visit CTA.tech.

Methodology 

To produce the Consumer Technology Industry Tariff Impact Snapshot, CTA analyzed monthly U.S. imports data from the U.S. Census Bureau, mapping it to consumer technology product categories using their corresponding HTS codes. ("Monthly U.S. Imports by Harmonized System (HS) Code." International Trade Data, Census Data API. Accessed April 2, 2026.)  

About Consumer Technology Association (CTA)®: 

As North America’s largest technology trade association, CTA is the tech sector. Our members are the world’s leading innovators – from startups to global brands – helping support more than 17 million American jobs. CTA owns and produces CES® – the most powerful tech event in the world. Find us at CTA.tech. Follow us @CTAtech.