Online game consoles usually are not being included in current US tariff pauses for tech imports.
Every single day, there’s some new improvement within the tariff coverage of the USA. At some point, tariffs are on, inflicting shockwaves all through international companies. The following day, they’re paused, or additional inflated. The day after that, they is perhaps inflated or paused once more. It means reporting across the tariffs is extremely difficult, and that any new announcement should be taken with a grain of salt. For online game followers, and notably these awaiting information of Nintendo Swap 2 preorders in the USA, it’s been a rocky trip.
Earlier this month, stories famous a 145% tariff can be positioned on items coming into the USA from China. Then, it was introduced that smartphones and computer systems can be exempted from the heightened tariffs, in addition to semiconductor chips, because of their important nature. Online game consoles weren’t included on this exemption.
As of as we speak, 15 April, bizarrely, that exemption is now unsure – as US President Donald Trump has claimed the tariff pause is momentary, and new tariffs on semiconductor chips and different applied sciences shall be introduced in future. Whereas this has induced quite a lot of uncertainty, and a justified quantity of frustration, it does seem that whatever the closing consequence, online game consoles coming into the USA shall be taxed at a excessive fee, probably inspiring greater prices for shoppers.
Per reporting from Nikkei Asia (through VGC), Nintendo – in addition to Apple – has allegedly been warned by inside assessors that online game consoles shall be topic to the originally-determined 145% tariff on imports from China. There’ll seemingly be no exemption for online game consoles, and so, the worth of importing consoles into the USA shall be considerably greater than deliberate.
Ought to this report show correct, it does seem Nintendo should reckon with this extra tariff in some type – though it stays to be seen whether or not this may have knock-on impacts for shoppers.
Following the preliminary pause on preorders for the Nintendo Swap 2 in the USA and Canada, Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser claimed the unique worth for the Swap 2 within the US – USD $449.99 – didn’t account for brand spanking new, ever-rising tariffs.
Swiftly, a brand new report adopted that claimed Nintendo had been importing Swap 2 consoles into the USA since early 2025, with a lot of the inventory produced in Vietnam being allotted to the US. The console is reportedly being produced in small portions in Vietnam, with the vast majority of manufacturing happening in China.
Presently, it’s unknown whether or not the corporate deliberate for these rising tariffs with its reported stockpile of consoles from Vietnam, which have seemingly escaped newly-placed tariffs. We additionally don’t know whether or not it’ll proceed producing consoles for the USA through Vietnam, as a method to keep away from the steeper tariff on items made in China.
As an extra word, we don’t know whether or not the tariffs will drive Nintendo to cost the console greater in the USA – regardless of an already steep price ticket, in contrast with costs in different areas – as a method to offset tariffs. For now, console preorders stay paused, and with the alleged recommendation given, which will stay the case, as new tariffs are developed, and the established order settles in.
There are various assumptions to make about what Nintendo‘s subsequent strikes shall be. It might have sufficient inventory to launch the Nintendo Swap 2 in the USA as initially deliberate, because of these reported imports from Vietnam. It might select to boost costs, to account for the continuing commerce conflict between the USA and China. For now, the trail ahead stays a thriller.
These seeking to preorder the Nintendo Swap 2 in the USA or Canada might want to keep tuned for an replace, because the scenario is in fixed flux.
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By Leah J. Williams 15 April 2025
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