The price of the Nintendo Switch 2, set at $449.99 in the US, may have been influenced by trade tariffs introduced during Donald Trump’s presidency. Experts analyze that this higher-than-expected pricing could be a strategic move by Nintendo.
This surge in cost is tied to recent tariffs targeting numerous countries, with China facing notably steep tariffs as high as 54%. In addition, Trump has announced a blanket 10% tariff on all imports, affecting markets like Japan significantly.
A report from the Financial Times suggests that these circumstances are reflected in the pricing of the new console. Japanese video game analyst Serkan Toto pointed out that it seems Nintendo prepared for potential supply chain disruptions caused by these tariffs.
The same publication noted that Nintendo has been relocating production outside China since Trump’s administration indicated plans to alter global trading practices. More than half of Nintendo’s hardware imported into the US comes from Vietnam and Cambodia.
However, recent tariff announcements have raised concerns regarding Vietnam and Cambodia, imposing 46% and 49% rates, respectively. Sources from FT indicate that large quantities of Switch 2 units have been shipped from Vietnam to Nintendo’s US facilities since January, potentially as a preemptive measure against impending tariffs.
MST Financial analysts reported significant export activity related to this situation: “Export data combined with finished product codes confirms that Nintendo shipped finished Switch 2 [from Vietnam] across five days in January for a total of 383,000 units with all of them going to the USA.” They speculated that this shipment ensured smooth distribution before any tariff impacts were felt.
