“Tariff” has become a buzz word in the modern political climate, and it’s fair to be concerned about how it will impact the average American consumer (and businesses at both ends of the tariff). Video games and associated merchandise come from around the globe, so one has to wonder if the U.S. tariffs President Trump is proposing will significantly impact the gaming industry.
IMPORTANT NOTE: This is purely a video game consumer discussion. There will be no political commentary at all as I believe as an author, it will detract from the conversation and remove the validity of a neutral conversation. Also, we are aware that this a moving target as to whether/when tariffs are/will be truly executed.
Let’s start with the basics. What are tariffs? Tariffs are taxes on imports–where a buyer pays a certain percentage if goods are coming from a foreign seller. The intent, whether you agree with it or not, is to protect domestic industries and disincentivize unfair trading practices from foreign countries. Tariffs have existed in the United States for a very long time, and in the early days, had provided significant revenue for the government.
In the last month, the American President, Donald Trump, set out to impose tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China, although details have been changing regularly. Interestingly, you will find different information on how, what, and why–depending on which news outlet you consume. Instead of heading down that rabbit hole, let’s continue on and look at potential impact on the gaming industry.
- After a brief hiccup, the USPS released an updated statement on 2/5/2025 that they will continue accepting mail and packages from China.
2. Playasia–a company well known for selling video games and merch also released a statement, indicating no major disruptions at this time:
3. How about its impact on the Switch 2? David Gibson, a senior analyst at MST, predicts that the consoles price point will not be impacted by the U.S. tariffs. Despite the 10% tariffs to China, Nintendo already has moved about half of its console production to Vietnam.
Now, this is only covering the tip of the iceberg, but it seems that despite the noise in the media, it is premature to conclude that these tariffs will significantly impact the video game industry. For example, Nintendo still utilizes various services in China, such as packaging and cartridge assembly. It is likely other publishers do the same thing. There is no doubt there is some level of impact, but only time will tell the severity. It does seem, however, to be in a better position that other industry sectors.
It’s important to stay informed and stay informed with unbiased new outlets. Despite the fear and concerns by these tariffs, things can change at the drop of a hat. The tariffs could be removed if there are fruitful discussions, or it could truly drive prices high in various consumer products. Boss Rush will be here to provide any insight when it comes to the gaming industry, so stay tuned!
What are your thoughts on the United States tariffs’ impact on the video game industry? Please share your thoughts with us on our Boss Rush Facebook Group or our Boss Rush Discord.
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Featured Image Source: MadeinUSA
Sources: USPS, MSN, The White House, CNN, ReadWrite
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