In context: In add-on to the global bit crisis, logistical issues caused by the pandemic, and the rising value of crypto, some other gene that has seen the price of graphics cards rising to obscene heights are Trump-era tariffs placed on Chinese-made appurtenances. To address the latter trouble, Nvidia and Zotac are urging the Biden assistants to make cards exempt from this extra toll.

PCMag reports that the companies fabricated the request to the Usa Merchandise Representative's (USTR) office, which is considering reinstating exemptions on some items covered past the tariffs. Nvidia specifically cited the lack of GPU manufacturing outside of China, meaning the cards are field of study to a 25% import tariff.

"The products are not manufactured in the Us and in but limited amounts in Taiwan. Efforts to create new chapters in countries that soon practise not manufacture such products (such as the Us and Vietnam) were unsuccessful and were severely hampered by the fallout from COVID-19," Nvidia said.

Nvidia continued to emphasize the pandemic'due south effect on the GPU industry. "The power to movement the supply chain and/or increment volume in other countries was negatively impacted by COVID-19 in terms of the astringent constraints in cargo/air freight chapters, the ability to operate facilities in people-intensive manufacturing, and the power to find and hire qualified employees trained in such manufacturing," it added.

Volition these become cheaper if Zotac gets its wish?

Zotac told the agency that although it has been working with a contract manufacturer in Taiwan to build its products, it still relies on China to plough raw materials into components, noting that it cannot find alternative sources.

HP is another company that noted China's importance as the principal source of imports. "The products HP sources are non currently produced elsewhere at sufficient capacity, quality, and compatibility needed," it told the USTR.

Other tech giants, including Apple tree, Google, and Intel, take besides filed comments urging the USTR to make sure Chinse-manufactured electronic goods exempt from tariffs.

The conclusion on whether to make an detail exempt will depend on whether the product remains bachelor exclusively in China, and "whether or not reinstating the exclusion will touch on or result in severe economic harm to the commenter or other US interests, including the impact on small businesses, employment, manufacturing output, and disquisitional supply bondage in the United states of america," the USTR said.

Even if the tariffs are lifted, we don't know when, or if, it volition be reflected in the cards' retail prices. Just information technology'southward certainly something we could employ right now, especially equally the Radeon RX 6000 line is prepare to become even more expensive.