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Nintendo Switch 2 Price Could Be Hit Hard by Latest Trump Tariff Change

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On April 14, 2025

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Summary

Switch 2 consoles made in China could face steep tariffs from the Trump administration.
The ongoing US-China trade dispute has led to a 145% tariff rate on China.
Nintendo’s manufacturing in Cambodia and Vietnam remains small compared to China.

According to a manufacturing industry firm’s latest report, the Nintendo Switch 2 could still see a potential price hike in the US due to the Trump administration’s 145% tariff on China. Although the Switch 2 is also manufactured in other nations like Vietnam and Cambodia, most of Nintendo’s console manufacturing is still done in China.

Following the Switch 2’s full reveal, Nintendo stated that the base console would start at $449, and a limited-edition Mario Kart World bundle would cost $499. Although pre-orders for the Switch 2 have started across Europe and Australia, North America’s pre-order windows were delayed from their April 9 window to an undetermined date. The delay was due to the Trump administration’s sweeping tariffs on goods from various nations, including Vietnam, Cambodia, and China. Since then, some of the Trump administration’s tariffs have been delayed for 90 days. Despite the ongoing tariff situation, Nintendo confirmed that the Switch 2 will launch worldwide on June 5.

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Although the Trump administration carved out some tariff exemptions on smartphones and other electronic devices, the Switch 2 may still face a price change. According to a Nikkei Asia report (and corroborated by VGC), the Switch 2 could still be subject to a 145% tariff because most of the company’s manufacturing operations are based in China. Although Nintendo also manufactures Switch consoles in Vietnam, Nikkei Asia stated that the Vietnamese units only make up a small portion of the company’s global production pipeline. Under the 90-day pause on increased global tariffs, Vietnam and other Asian nations are only subject to a 10% tariff, with China being the lone exception. Additionally, the pause would end in early July, one month after the Switch 2’s June 5 release.

The Switch 2 Could Be Caught in the Middle of the US-China Tariff Situation

Switch 2 consoles made in China could face steep tariffs from the Trump administration.
The current 145% tariff rate on China is part of the ongoing US-China trade dispute.
Nintendo’s manufacturing in Cambodia and Vietnam remains small compared to China.
Switch 2 units from Vietnam only face a 10% tariff under a 90-day pause on steeper rates.

Despite the exemption on certain electronics, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick stated that those products could be subject to separate tariffs in the coming months. Though Nintendo still maintains a footprint in China, the company’s Vietnamese manufacturing branch will get plenty of use. Previous reports stated that over a million Switch 2 units made in Vietnam had already been shipped to the US in January and February, before any tariff-related actions by the Trump administration took hold.

As it stands, Nintendo has not announced when Switch 2 pre-orders will begin in the US and Canada. Although the Trump administration’s 90-day pause affords Nintendo a window to sell the Switch 2 at its initial $449 price tag, it remains to be seen if it will stick.