Tariffs Hinder Switch 2: Nintendo Sues Trump
The Japanese gaming company Nintendo has entered a new legal battle with the U.S. government, demanding a refund of the tariffs it paid during President Donald Trump's administration, describing them as "collected illegally."
The company announced in a lawsuit filed in the U.S. International Trade Court on Friday, March 6, that it wants to recover the funds quickly, as part of a legal wave involving thousands of U.S. companies seeking refunds of about $170 billion paid under previous tariffs, which were overturned by the Supreme Court in February 2025 after a historic 6-3 ruling in favor of importing companies.
The new tariffs announced by Trump in April 2025 particularly shocked Nintendo, as they came just before the start of pre-orders for its new Switch 2 in the United States.
This forced the company to delay the launch of pre-orders and led it to raise prices on some accessories like the "Pro Controller" and the "Joy-Con" charging grip, although the base price of the console remained at $499 thanks to imports from Vietnam.
According to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, it has managed to collect about $166 billion from previous tariffs, and the refund system is expected to be ready within 45 days.
This lawsuit comes after the Nintendo Switch 2 became the fastest-selling gaming console in the company's history in America, putting more pressure on the U.S. government to return the funds that the company claims were "collected illegally."
