Impact of Tariffs on Audio Market

Can't count the times I've heard people complain about taxes, I don't like them either. In order to avoid this tax my entire philosophy of personal consumption is going through changes, not using disposable income to purchase anything not absolutely necessary. Towards that only one purchase on ebay, perhaps three or four from Amazon since late January, far down from the usual. I have no plans or needs for a single audio purchase, all my big ticket items taken care of. While not exactly a boycott, I've greatly changed my consumption habits, expect this to continue, I'm into downsizing at this point in life. I don't know how many other will take this tack, but I do see this attitude being voiced quite often on social media, consumption habits may be changing en masse, if this happens everyone will be hurt.

We  can easily predict where this all going, present tariff regime unsustainable, alterations only a matter of time. In any case I fully expect there will be less free trade long into the future, memories long and nationalism/protectionism increased. This means less competition which in turn means higher long term prices, in this 'new' economic world consumers will be squeezed meaning less consumption. Add to this so many other constraints on growth such as AI, environment, aging populations, and so many others. Fewer and fewer humans will be productive going into future, AI alone will displace millions, perhaps billions. 

Many are advocating running balanced budgets and controlling debt, in order for that to happen humans must be far more self sufficient than at present or planned for into future. With the above constraints I don't see this happening.