Let’s hope there aren’t more changes to this deal.
In a startling turn of events, the hefty tariffs that have been holding up the preorders for the Switch 2 in both the U.S. and Canada are seeing a temporary reduction.
Earlier today, an announcement on an official social media account unveiled a significant update: the previously high tariffs—46% on imports from Vietnam and about 25% on imports from Japan—are now being slashed to a manageable 10% for the next 90 days. This is a relief, considering these tariffs had been set on items like Nintendo’s hardware, shifted to Vietnam in the late 2010s, and the game cards produced in Japan. While this new rate will be in effect during the Switch 2’s launch, there’s still a risk that later shipments might face those steeper charges if no further negotiations occur.
The update didn’t stop there. It further mentioned that China, where Nintendo once produced its hardware, now faces a massive 125% import tariff. This move is in response to a steep 104% tariff China imposed on U.S. imports. And as if that wasn’t enough, Mexico—previously untouched by these tariff waves and the current producer of the game card cases for North America—might also fall under a forthcoming 10% tariff blanket.
The unfolding situation has certainly kept the gaming community and industry watchers on their toes, as we all eagerly wait to see how it will impact the long-awaited Switch 2 launch and subsequent sales strategies.