Nintendo is demanding a refund for tariffs it paid in the US, but don’t expect to see the refund passed on to you
- Nintendo requested a refund and interest for the fares paid
- It’s unclear if or when he’ll be able to get a refund…
- …although you are unlikely to get any refund for the technology you purchased
After the US Supreme Court struck down the “reciprocal tariffs” introduced by the Trump administration on so-called “Liberation Day”, companies have already started taking the government to court for a refund of what they paid. This includes Nintendo, which is demanding, through its lawyers, its share of the “more than $200 billion in tariffs on imports from almost every country” collected by the United States (via Aftermath).
Nintendo isn’t just asking for a full refund; it also requires interest.
That makes it one of more than 2,000 similar lawsuits, according to one law firm — a volume that perhaps explains the Customs and Border Protection agency’s request for a 45-day deadline to set up a refund system, with a judge offering it some relief in response (via The Hill).
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It doesn’t have to take too long, however, because interest is accumulating every day, and estimates suggest that interest adds about $650 million to the amount the U.S. government owes each month.
Unfortunately, when (even if) customs duty refunds are given to businesses, it is unclear whether those refunds would be passed on in any way to us consumers, although we doubt it. It will be difficult to determine exactly when and who were affected by the tariffs – as some of the inventory sold during this period was already in the country – and companies could also simply claim that they did not pass on the increased costs to consumers.
That’s not to say it won’t happen, but be wary of potential scams taking advantage of the confusion. If you receive an email or call explaining that Nintendo or another company owes you a refund for fares you paid, be sure to triple check if it’s legitimate before clicking on a link or sharing details.
Lower prices on arrival? No
Never say never, but rising prices will almost certainly remain a trend in 2026.
Even though Trump’s initial tariffs were reduced, he has already reinstated 15% global tariffs, and we still see lingering impacts from the RAM crisis driven by AI’s reliance on memory chips.
Additionally, the recently broken out war in Iran has caused oil prices to skyrocket: at the time of writing, we have exceeded $100 per barrel. Oil is essential for energy production, transportation and even some manufacturing processes. Its price therefore has a major impact on the cost of goods. If high prices persist – or if oil costs rise – expect tech to see some cost increases as well.
Hopefully, technology prices will drop at some point, but don’t expect that to happen anytime soon. If you’re feeling the pressure, our TechRadar advice is always to try to get the most out of your existing gadgets for as long as possible – delay refreshing that phone for a few months to a year to maximize value – and if you need to, or just want to upgrade your gadgets, try shopping during a sale like Black Friday or one of Amazon’s many Prime Day variants.
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