With the incoming US administration's threat—shiny promise to jingoists—of seriously high tariffs on Chinese imports to bolster the domestic economy and make America great again, hifi shoppers should probably prepare for matching price increases. It's not just turnkey products of openly Chinese brands that will be affected if Donald Trump's vision takes hold. A plethora of parts required to make audio gear outside China is manufactured in China. Once existing parts inventories need restocking, watch out? A recent New Year's email from Singapore's Vinshine Audio specialized in selling Chinese products overseas rang the same alarm. Nobody knows what's coming. What will the cost multiplier of the new tariffs be? If taken at his word, the new president's attempts to shield US-based manufacturers from Chinese competition could simply have a real impact on our little hifi community. What to do? Ask those who voted for the man. They'll probably tell us to buy American. Really?
