Tariff pain turns to gain: US computer, toy stockpiles help meet virus rush


Caidence Miller, a 4th grader at Cottage Lake Elementary, tries to figure out assignment instructions without working speakers on his laptop as he and grandmother Chrissy Brackett navigate the online learning system the Northshore School District will use for two weeks due to coronavirus concerns, at Brackett's home in Woodinville, Washington, United States, March 11. — Reuters

OAKLAND, California: As the coronavirus outbreak forced classes online, Boston Public Schools ordered 20,000 laptops and had them in hand in four days – an unusually fast turnaround made possible by a build-up of inventory prompted by the US-China trade war.

Computer companies including Boston school vendor Acer Inc ordered extra laptops for import in early December ahead of scheduled US tariffs on products from China, where 90% of the world's laptops and monitors are made.

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