American fans of FiiO will soon have to dig much deeper into their pockets for products from the brand, all thanks to the now-infamous tariffs.
Everyone is likely familiar with the tariffs imposed — and championed — by Donald Trump. Ironically, it appears that the biggest victim of these tariffs may be his own country — or more specifically, the average American consumer. More and more non-U.S. manufacturers are starting to implement substantial price increases for their products on the American market. FiiO, a Chinese company, has announced a 40% price hike, effective May 1.
In the price and product category where FiiO operates, there are few — if any — affordable “Made in the USA” alternatives. This also applies to other well-known Chinese brands such as iFi, HiFiMAN, Topping, and Questyle. As of now, it is unclear whether they will follow suit, but it’s highly likely they will. The impact will be felt most by budget-conscious audiophiles and fans of portable audio gear.
No Impact Outside the U.S.
In the EU and the rest of the world, these FiiO tariffs don’t apply of course — and therefore won’t affect prices. Tariffs on electronics, such as audio gear, largely bypass regions like Europe. Moreover, the EU enjoys a wealth of “Made in EU” brands, and Japanese electronics have long been popular across the continent too. In short, with this kind of policy, Trump seems to be shooting himself — or at least his country’s audio fans — in the foot.