What's the Tariff on Computer Monitor?
Computer displays from China and other Asian nations.
Current Tariff Rate
34%
Pre-2025 Rate
3.9%
Rate Increase
+30.1pp
Price Impact
+34%
+$119
Real-World Price Impact
Before Tariffs
$349
27" 4K Monitor
After Tariffs
$468
27" 4K Monitor
That's $119 more per unit — a 34% price increase paid by the American buyer.
Note: Price estimates assume full tariff pass-through to consumers. Actual retail prices may vary — manufacturers may absorb some costs, shift production, or adjust margins.
The Story Behind This Tariff
Computer monitors face a moderate 34% tariff that nonetheless disrupts a market essential to the remote-work economy. The work-from-home shift permanently increased monitor demand — dual-monitor setups became standard for knowledge workers. China dominates through manufacturers like AOC (TPV Technology), while Dell and HP monitors are split between Chinese and Mexican assembly. LG produces premium monitors in South Korea. The tariff creates a bifurcated market: budget monitors from China become uncompetitive while Korean and Mexican-assembled alternatives gain share. For businesses equipping remote workers, monitor costs per employee rise $100-150, multiplied across thousands of seats. The gaming monitor segment, dominated by Chinese brands like ASUS and Gigabyte, is particularly exposed. Panel production — the most capital-intensive step — remains concentrated in China (BOE), Korea (LG/Samsung), and Taiwan (AU Optronics).
📦 Supply Chain
Primary Origin
China
Made in USA
3%
Import Volume
$6.4B
Alternatives
Mexico, South Korea (LG premium)
📅 Tariff Timeline
2018
Section 301 List 3 — monitors included
10%2019
Rate increase on List 3
25%2025
IEEPA replaces Section 301 rate
34%👥 Consumer Impact
Households Affected
68M
Annual Cost Per Household
$65
💡 Did You Know?
- •Remote work doubled US monitor demand from 2019-2023, making tariff timing especially painful
- •BOE Technology now produces 30% of all LCD panels globally, making China inescapable in the display supply chain
- •A single monitor display panel requires over 200 processing steps across multiple countries
Tariff Details
- HTS Code
- 8528.52
- Current Rate
- 34%
- Pre-2025 Rate
- 3.9%
- Tariff Type
- IEEPA
Legal Authority
IEEPA Executive Order (April 2, 2025)
Effective: April 2, 2025
"Liberation Day" — broad tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act
The tariff on Computer Monitor is paid by the American importer at the port of entry and passed through to consumers as higher retail prices. The foreign manufacturer does not pay the tariff.
Who Actually Pays This Tariff?
Despite claims that tariffs are paid by foreign countries, the 34% tariff on Computer Monitor is paid by American importers — US companies that purchase these goods from abroad. The cost is then passed to American consumers through higher retail prices.
- ✓ The foreign seller receives the same price as before
- ✓ The US importer pays 34% of the customs value to CBP
- ✓ The retailer marks up the higher landed cost
- ✓ You pay more at the register: $349 → $468
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