As the Trump administration’s sweeping tariffs continue to throttle global economics, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters the 104% duties on imports from China will go into effect at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday. President Trump’s 34% reciprocal tariffs issued last week and the existing 20% tariff lift the potential percentage for China to around 104%.
Despite modest gains early Tuesday, U.S. stocks unsurprisingly felt the impact as President Donald Trump shirked negotiation attempts from many foreign leaders.
Though President Trump plans to speak with a handful of U.S. allies and trading partners, the White House asserted that its 50% tariffs will proceed as planned.
Economics and Electronics
The Trump administration’s proposed tariffs will likely impact more than stock performance and 401(k)s; consumers can anticipate price hikes spanning essential and discretionary goods. Consumers concerned about rising electronics prices face even more aggressive increases, with tariffs delaying the highly anticipated release of Nintendo’s Switch 2 console. The console’s stateside arrival is on hold indefinitely, with its Canadian preorder date also up in the air.
Nintendo and other Japanese game companies have seen subpar stock performance following word of Trump’s tariffs. The country faces a tailored 24% tariff rate.
Word regarding the Switch 2’s higher-than-expected $449.99 retail price came out before President Trump’s tariff announcement. Still, that figure may rise amid uncertainty from consumers and big box brands.
Experts at gaming industry research and consulting firm DFC Intelligence say tariffs will complicate Nintendo fans’ fiscal future.
Last week, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) and other groups asked top U.S. trade rep Jamieson Greer to “increase the use of existing trade tools that strengthen trade relations with key markets for U.S. products and services.”
Tariffs Test Tabletop Industry
Electronic devices aren’t the only price hikes expected, some warn.
Board game fans can expect more costly game nights as indie brands’ already modest budgets will feel the brunt.
Many tabletop games popular in the U.S. rely on Chinese manufacturing in some capacity, and with compromised affordability and availability, small brands may struggle to sell at prices comfortable for consumers. At best, tabletop fans will pay considerably more for their favorite games. At worst, big companies will absorb indie labels that can no longer stay afloat independently, or content will disappear entirely.
Amid outcry from tabletop fans and industry employees, some brands are speaking out, contextualizing Trump’s tariffs and clarifying what these moves mean for the industry’s future.
In Monday’s release titled “The Math of Tariffs,” American board game publisher Stonemaier Games broke it all down. Stonemaier’s release, like those of many other board game brands, doesn’t mince words:
“In the whirlwind surrounding the 54% tariff paid by any company importing goods from China to the US, I consistently saw questions, confusion, and even accusations of greed regarding the math of tariffs. Publishers, distributors, retailers, and customers do not benefit from the manufacturing cost increasing by 54%, and today I’ll delve into the math … I’m sharing my perspective as a publisher. At Stonemaier Games, we spent around $10 million on production costs in 2024. That means the tariffs could add as much as $5 million in expenses for us this year. I’ll talk about distributors and retailers, but they will have different perspectives–everyone’s story is unique and valid. Please don’t assume that you know someone else’s circumstances; instead, ask them questions with empathy, curiosity, and an open mind.”
Ahead of the Trump administration’s broad tariffs, take time to shout out your favorite indie entertainment company. In uncertain times, we must remember the importance of connectivity, creativity, and community, three imperative elements of the human experience fostered and fueled by our favorite games.
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A lifelong gamer raised on classic titles like Crash Bandicoot, Spyro, and Croc, Stephanie brings her expertise of gaming and pop culture to deliver unique, refreshing views on the world of video games, complete with references to absurd and obscure media.
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