It's been nearly a week since President Donald Trump's 10% tariff on Chinese goods went into effect, and the tech industry's silence has been deafening. Despite the potential for significant price hikes and profit declines, major tech companies such as Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta, Nintendo, and Samsung have yet to comment on the tariffs.

This lack of response is surprising, given the widespread impact of the tariffs on the tech industry. Almost every major tech company manufactures and ships products from China, which means they will be facing higher costs to bring those products into the country. These higher costs are often passed on to consumers, which could lead to price increases on popular products.

Some companies have declined to comment, including Google, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Sony. Others, such as Canon USA and DJI, have provided vague statements saying they are "monitoring the situation" and "assessing the impact internally." A long list of companies, including Alibaba, AMD, AT&T, Best Buy, Broadcom, Dell, EchoStar / Dish, Fujifilm, HP, Intel, Lenovo, LG, Logitech, Newegg, Nikon, Panasonic, Philips, Qualcomm, Shein, Target, TCL, Temu, Texas Instruments, T-Mobile, Verizon, and Walmart, have not commented at all.

There are several reasons why companies may be hesitant to comment. It may take time for them to feel the effects of the tariff and understand how it will impact their businesses. The Trump administration's chaotic nature may also be causing companies to wait and see if the policy changes or gets put on pause, as it already has for Canada and Mexico. Additionally, the administration's vindictive nature may be causing companies to avoid drawing attention to themselves by blaming the tariffs for hurting their business.

In contrast, automakers have been more vocal in their opposition to the tariffs. BMW, for example, stated that "tariffs hinder free trade, slow down innovation, and set a negative spiral in motion. In the end, they are detrimental to customers, making products more expensive and less innovative." Other automakers, such as GM, Ford, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen, have also spoken out against the tariffs, citing concerns about the impact on their businesses and the broader economy.

The tariffs have already caused turmoil in the shipping industry, with the USPS briefly stopping acceptance of parcels from China and shoppers seeing additional fees on shipments from other carriers. The Trump administration has since temporarily paused the removal of the de minimis exemption, which allowed packages valued at less than $800 to enter the US duty-free.

The situation is likely to continue evolving, with Trump planning to announce 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum on Monday. As the tech industry continues to navigate the uncertainty surrounding these tariffs, one thing is clear: their silence is deafening, and it's time for them to speak up.