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Nintendo Sues US Government Over Trump Tariffs

Nintendo Sues US Government Over Trump Tariffs - News

by William D'Angelo , posted 6 days ago / 5,622 Views

Nintendo of America is suing the United States government over the Donald Trump's tariffs, according to a complaint filed Friday in the US Court of International Trade and obtained by Aftermath.

The US Supreme Court did strike down Trump's tariffs last month, however, Trump is trying to impose new 15 percent tariffs on global imports under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974.

Over 1,000 companies and about two dozen states have sued the US government over what they call illegal implementation of tariffs. 

The lawsuit from Nintendo of America is mainly seeking refunds of the previously imposed tariffs that were struck down. The lawsuit specifically mentions US Department of the Treasury and Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, US Department of Homeland Security and former Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, Office of the United States Trade Representative and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, US Customs and Border Protection and Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott, and the US Department of Commerce and Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick.

"This action concerns Defendants' initiation and administration of unlawful trade measures that have, to date, resulted in the collection of more than $200 billion in tariffs on imports from nearly all countries," writes lawyers in the complaint.

Lawyers write that Trump implemented "unlawful" executive orders "imposing tariffs on imports from a vast swath of countries." Nintendo is asking the court to refund "with interest" the tariffs its paid. 

"[Nintendo of America] has standing to sue because it is the importer of record for goods that were subject to IEEPA Duties," writes lawyers. The lawyers added, "All tariffs collected under the IEEPA Duties must be refunded with interest."


A life-long and avid gamer, William D'Angelo was first introduced to VGChartz in 2007. After years of supporting the site, he was brought on in 2010 as a junior analyst, working his way up to lead analyst in 2012 and taking over the hardware estimates in 2017. He has expanded his involvement in the gaming community by producing content on his own YouTube channel and Twitch channel. You can follow the author on Bluesky.


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47 Comments
Angelv577 (6 days ago)

Go get them Nintendo.

MIGA... I mean MAGA cant get away with these abuses.

  • +23
TheRealSamusAran (6 days ago)

Holy shit, LFG
This is the one lawsuit where everyone with more than two neurons will support Nintendo lmao.

  • +21
PAOerfulone (6 days ago)

I never thought I’d see the day where everyone (at least everyone who isn’t hardcore Trump/MAGA) is rooting for Nintendo to WIN a court case.
Edit: What are the chances that they actually win this case?

  • +17
Wyrdness PAOerfulone (6 days ago)

Could be very good tbh as other companies are taking similar action due to a high court ruling questioning the legality of the tariffs and as a result companies may be entitled to tariff refunds.

  • +3

I dont think they will win.
This could be bad for Nintendo fans because you can end up with Tramp banning Nintendo products.

  • +5

If he’s stupid enough to pull a stunt like that or raising the tariffs even higher right before midterms, then by all means, Donnie-boy, go right ahead.

  • +6

Nintendo is a Japanese company, though. I don't think Trump would be dumb enough to ban them over a lawsuit.

  • +3
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JackHandy (6 days ago)

Now that the supreme court ruled it illegal and unconstitutional, there is no chance these suits fail. Trump is like a rabid dog trapped in a foxhole right now. The walls are closing in.

  • +10

But on the other hand, Trump seems to be going with the strategy of "The Supreme Court has made their decision, now let them enforce it."

  • +2

That's because he's got shit for brains.

  • 0

And because Congress, in particular the Senate, has an almost complete lack of balls.

  • 0

That's a wild over simplification of the lawsuit a ruling lol

  • +1
BraLoD (6 days ago)

Can't believe I'm supporting Nintendo in a news about a lawsuit, lol.
Great, hope more do the same.

  • +9
Ayla (6 days ago)

Good luck with that

  • +9
curl-6 (6 days ago)

Good, the US government sucks

  • +8
umegames (6 days ago)

May be a wild take, but I don't think Nintendo should get anything (especially not with interest), UNLESS they use that money to compensate everyone that bought products that were increased as their response. If they raised the cost to compensate, and people still bought their products, then that money belongs to the consumer.

  • +7
The Fury umegames (6 days ago)

What products were increased? Did Switch's cost rise at all? Switch 2?

  • +3

The Switch 1 family consoles and accessories for the Switch 2 had price hikes, but not the Switch 2 console.

  • +4
PAOerfulone umegames (6 days ago)

You know that's not going to happen.
What's much more likely to happen if Nintendo wins this case is that it will open the floodgates for EVERY overseas company impacted by the tariffs to go after the Trump Administration/US Government. After Nintendo, Sony might be next. Then Kia; Toyota; Adidas; ALL of them. And if they have cases, a good chunk of them will win, to which Trump's administration/the US Government have to pay those fees to those companies.
And by the Trump administration/US Government, I mean US Citizens (Like me). They're going to pass those fees onto US citizens and taxpayers, adding to their payments and disgruntlement. And considering how this year is the midterm elections, and Trump and the Republican party are already on the hot seat over the tariffs, ICE, and the Israel/Iran war that just broke out. The last thing they need is MORE bad press and grievances from American citizens, which is what losing these tariff lawsuits would cause. And if THAT happens, Trump/Republicans would stand to lose a WHOLE lot more than ten, potentially hundreds, of millions of dollars in lawsuit/tariff money.

  • 0
StriderKiwi umegames (5 days ago)

Yeah i 100% agree. Even if nintendo are in the right, it still hurt the consumers far more.

  • +2
Ashadelo (5 days ago)

Yet this will not result in Nintendo lowering their prices

  • +5
StriderKiwi Ashadelo (5 days ago)

Yep. Almost like the tariffs were a convenient excuse

  • +2
CaptainExplosion (5 days ago)

Rooting for Nintendo because fuck that old pedophile who started WWIII.

  • +4

Its not America's job to help Nintendo (a Japanese company dependent on the west) maximize profits on their over priced games and hardware.

  • +1

Sorry, I shouldn't say bad things about the greedy company suddenly trying to maximize profits on the western markets.

  • +1

None of this would have happened if the Orange Man hadn't imposed those stupid tariffs in the first place. Nintendo is just one of many companies that are now doing something about it after the Supreme Court ruled, 6-3, that the tariffs were illegal. (Two of those six judges that made the ruling were judges HE appointed by the way.).

  • +2

There are actually different types tariffs he was allowed to do. It appears these ones specifically were not okay. So yeah, using tariffs as forms of leverage is still valid.

  • 0
Leynos (6 days ago)

Get them Nintendo!

  • +4
Azzanation (4 days ago)

People here are delusional. Nintendo sueing the US isn't going to lower the cost of Nintendo Switches. This is just another "we want money" lawsuit. Also good luck with that.

  • +3
Kanemaru (5 days ago)

And yet we have to gently accept uncomplete games sold at 80 bucks cuz they're "better than the average"... Only nintendo have the right to rip people off, right?

Geez! I'm so glad to have not bought anything nintendo related for over a decade!

  • +3
JackHandy Kanemaru (5 days ago)

If a company creates a product, and they set their price, and you believe the price to be too expensive but buy it anyway, that is not you getting ripped off. That is you deciding to buy something you felt was too expensive. Completely different things.

  • +4
Kanemaru JackHandy (5 days ago)

The US Government also set their tariff. Exact same thing.
Funny how people are backing nintendo just cuz they think it looks cool to be against the government.

  • +1
JackHandy Kanemaru (4 days ago)

Whether it's cool or lame, it doesn't matter. Tariffs have been ruled illegal by the highest court in the land, and the vast majority of US citizens, both cool AND lame, oppose them.

  • +3
SanAndreasX Kanemaru (3 days ago)

These tariffs are absolute bullshit, designed to punish people for buying products they like just because Trump's feelings are hurt. Imagine if we had an actual functioning Congress that would bring Trump to heel.

  • 0

Come November, we won't have to imagine anymore.

  • 0
Mr Puggsly (5 days ago)

Nintendo: "We are extremely dependent on American money because Japanese people are poor in comparison and the child population is really low. Which is why is price gouge Americans while the same content is like $40 in Japan."

Nintendo can fuck off in my opinion. But we will see what the courts think. I've been to Japan numerous times and its evident to me Nintendo only looks at the west as a financial opportunity.

  • +2
konnichiwa (5 days ago)

Nintendo won the console wars and now starts the war against USA....

  • +2
JackHandy konnichiwa (5 days ago)

More like a war against illegal (as recently ruled by the US supreme court) tariffs.

  • +2
Random_Matt (6 days ago)

Good luck. At least the lawyers are going to get paid well.

  • +2
PAOerfulone (6 days ago)

Screw Hogan and Andre!
THIS is irresistible force meeting the immovable object!

  • +2
HopeMillsHorror (3 days ago)

Good Luck to Nintendo on this one

If PC parts are exempt from tariffs, I don't see why consoles and gaming hardware shouldn't be as well

  • +1
StriderKiwi (5 days ago)

Great. How about all those customers who bought everything at inflated pricing due to tariffs? Can they sue the government and get reimbursement?

  • +1
yanis-bnth (5 days ago)

Get thes assh*les

  • +1
UnderwaterFunktown (5 days ago)

999 companies sue US Government
US Government: yawns
Nintendo joins the chat
US Government: "Well, we had a good run."

  • 0
tak13 (6 days ago)

So, NS2 is close to price hike and that's the last ace upon the sleeve.

  • 0