Another twist in the saga of tariffs has emerged as a US court ruled that President Trump’s authority to impose his “liberation day” tariffs is invalid. However, before celebrating a potential drop in computer hardware prices, it’s crucial to understand that this ruling does not extend to sector-specific tariffs like those on semiconductors.

According to Reuters, the US Court of International Trade has halted most of Trump’s tariffs, concluding that they were not justifiable under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which Trump used to assert their necessity for national security.

Earlier this April, Trump announced substantial “reciprocal” tariffs targeting various nations, particularly focusing on China. The fluctuations and uncertainties surrounding these tariffs have been notable, and for further insights, you can read my summary here.

Despite the recent court ruling, the situation remains precarious for PC hardware. Heavy tariffs could still be applied to semiconductors and related products due to their nature as sector-specific tariffs, which involve more careful consideration compared to blanket tariffs based on nationality.

Moreover, the White House has appealed this decision, and it may eventually be reviewed by higher courts, potentially reaching the Supreme Court.

Ultimately, while this ruling appears to offer some relief regarding PC hardware pricing, uncertainties persist regarding the government’s future actions on semiconductors and associated technology. The administration is still examining the implications of such tariffs on national security. Companies within the PC gaming hardware sector have already felt the impact of tariffs, making it difficult to forecast the market’s direction moving forward.