Samsung trumps USA's tariffs by making displays in Mexico, and elsewhere if needed
- Reference: 1744084754
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2025/04/08/samsung_q1_2025_tariff_response/
- Source link:
Speaking in Seoul yesterday to launch a range of new AI-infused televisions, Yong told [1]Korean media that most of the televisions, monitors and soundbars it sells into the USA are made in Mexico, which wasn’t whacked with the [2]25 percent “reciprocal tax” imposed on South Korea last week. The exec reportedly described the impact of reciprocal taxes as “slim”, added Samsung is monitoring the situation and mentioned the fact the company manufactures in ten nations as meaning it has more ways to work around tariffs.
Samsung investors got more good news today as the company [3]delivered guidance for its Q1 2025 results and predicted sales of ₩79 trillion (US$53.75 billion), a ten percent surge. Profits, which had been expected to fall by perhaps 20 percent, were down just 0.15 percent down year-over-year to ₩6.46 trillion ($4.5 billion).
[4]
Samsung doesn’t detail how it earned the revenue it discusses in its pre-results guidance, but we do know the company has recently reported [5]disappointing numbers as it tried to ramp manufacturing of high-bandwidth memory to cash in on the AI boom. Maybe the Korean giant has improved that aspect of its business, or perhaps buyers decided to buy a new [6]Galaxy S25 smartphone after its January debut.
[7]Rollable laptop displays to roll off the production line from April, says Samsung
[8]After missing the AI boom – badly – Samsung shuffles the C-Suite
[9]OK, Google: Are you killing Assistant and replacing it with Gemini?
[10]US Commerce Dept coughs up $6.1B Christmas present for Micron
The S25 on Monday gained a new “real time AI” feature that allows users to point the handset’s camera at anything and then ask Google’s Gemini assistant for guidance.
Samsung used the example of a user photographing clothes and asking: “Which shoes will go with it?”
[11]
The televisions announced yesterday also added AI that can do things including monitoring a home to detect unexpected movement when the resident is out, then issuing alerts. The televisions can also interact with Samsung appliances to “suggest optimal usage solutions”. Whatever that is.
Running AI in the televisions is made possible by the machines using Samsung’s Tizen operating system. That OS also has another function: Helping Samsung to fight back against cheap Chinese televisions by upscaling video so its appearance on mid-range LED panels rivals the experience of watching pricier tellies from Middle Kingdom manufacturers. ®
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[1] https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250407003400320
[2] https://www.theregister.com/2025/04/02/us_tariffs_liberation_day_announcement/
[3] https://news.samsung.com/global/samsung-electronics-announces-earnings-guidance-for-first-quarter-2025
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/personaltech&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2Z_Tzq0J5ZU5Lj5W_81Q2oQAAAMo&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[5] https://www.theregister.com/2024/10/31/samsung_q3_2024/
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2025/01/22/samsung_galaxy_s25/
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2025/01/10/lenovo_samsung_rollable_laptop_screens/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2024/11/28/samsung_electronics_new_leadership/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2025/03/17/google_assistant_eol_gemini_replacement/
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2024/12/11/micron_chips_funded/
[11] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/personaltech&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44Z_Tzq0J5ZU5Lj5W_81Q2oQAAAMo&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[12] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Honestly, all other countries should hold Trump to ransom by completely cutting off ALL trade to and from the United States until such time as Trump has left office and the Tariff situation has been returned to pre-trump times. Also include Tourism in that by preventing anyone travelling to the United States, and preventing anyone from the United States entering another country.
That would be cool, and a proper trade war. Then we'll see how that "trade imbalance" affects things...
I said from the start that if China were to ban all exports to the USA, even for a month, Trump would be forced to reconsider when people realise how much stuff they like depends on parts from China.
But I think your idea would be better, if enough countries would band together to do it.
AI that can do things including monitoring a home
Suddenly, I'm re-evaluating the case in favour of swingeing tariffs.
Re: AI that can do things including monitoring a home
If only we could have tariffs in idiocy!
"a range of new AI-infused televisions"
As if "smart" ones weren't bad enough!
Make the tea?
The televisions can also interact with Samsung appliances to “suggest optimal usage solutions”. Whatever that is.
Your Samsung TV can now detect an upcoming ad break, and tell your Samsung kettle in advance to boil water to make a cuppa?
Re: Make the tea?
Surely the better use of AI is to block the ad to begin with ?
Re: Make the tea?
Can it detect news reports of Trump tariffs and the resulting market crashes, and replace them with soothing videos of kittens?
Why would you ask your tv to identify the shoes, when your phone which also has AI could have already "helped" ?
AI-infused televisions
The icon says it all --->
I'm afraid Trump and Co have already said that the current tarrifs will be modified once they work out a formula for determining the component composition. So if they decide that a product made in Mexico comprises 90% parts made in China then the tarrif will be of Chinese proportions, or something like that.
None of this is sane and I don't expect any future changes to be rational either. If they can put tarrif on islands inhabited by only penguins then the rest of it is going to be as insane also.