Video game consoles not included in tech tariff exemptions

To make things even more confusing and uncertain, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Sunday on ABC’s This Week that separate tariffs for electronics are on the way, and are expected to be rolled out “in probably a month or two.” The electronics on the exemption list released Friday are still subject to 20% tariffs, just not — for the moment — a total of 145% tariffs on Chinese imports. Similarly, components used in video game consoles are exempt from the larger tariffs, but still face 20% tariffs that are applied to all Chinese imports. That number is likely to change, per Lutnick’s comments regarding the upcoming semiconductor tariffs.

Beyond Nintendo, however, other console makers face hard decisions about pricing in the face of Trump’s tariffs. Should tariffs stay at 125% for Chinese-made goods, consoles from Microsoft and Sony could go up in price; in fact, Sony announced on Monday a price increase for its PlayStation 5 consoles in Europe, the U.K., Australia, and New Zealand. The speed at which tariffs have been changing, too, is creating increased uncertainty in the market.