The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) has updated a January 2025 report estimating the cost of importing tech goods to the US could rise anywhere between 24% to 69.4%, with the latter figure expected for video game consoles if the Trump administration’s tariffs progress as planned.
As spotted by Tom’s Hardware, the report, written by the Trade Partnership Worldwide, suggests video game consoles – of which 87% are imported from China, which is facing tariffs of 145% – will be hardest hit of all tech goods if the paused tariffs do proceed at their current rates.
And if the tariffs do go ahead, estimates suggest the financial fallout from the video game console market alone would slice $10.4 billion annually from the entire US economy.
Analysts believe that would send the price of consoles in the US rocketing by – not to – around $428, see imports slump 71%, and trigger consumer spending cuts by as much as 73% – that’s around $12 billion.
Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders were delayed in the US due to the evolving situation of US President Donald Trump’s “reciprocal” tariffs on imported goods. The console’s launch date of June 5, however, has not changed.
Even before the furor with tariffs, GamesIndustry.biz spoke to analysts about why Switch 2 prices are so high and how inflation and other factors may have resulted in this decision.
Earlier today, Nintendo released its financial results for the full year, reporting a decline in net sales and profits as it prepares for the release of the Switch 2 next month. As part of its results, the firm revealed its sales forecast for the upcoming console, stating it expects hardware sales of 15 million units with software sales expected to be 45 million.
So far, 2.2 million people have applied for pre-orders of the Switch 2 in Japan.