Nintendo Takes Legal Action Against U.S. Government

Nintendo is taking the U.S. government to court over what it calls “unlawful” tariffs and is asking for a refund with interest. The lawsuit was filed today in the United States Court of International Trade, according to a report from Aftermath.

The legal action focuses on tariffs that the Supreme Court struck down last month. The Court ruled that President Donald Trump’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose these tariffs was illegal. Despite that ruling, Trump later introduced a new 10% global tariff on imports.

Nintendo’s plans were directly affected by the tariffs. After Trump announced the tariffs at a White House “Make America Wealthy Again” event in April 2025, the company delayed pre-orders for its Switch 2 console in the U.S. market.

The delay was meant to give Nintendo time to assess the impact of the tariffs and other market changes. “Pre-orders for Nintendo Switch 2 in the U.S. will not start April 9, 2025 in order to assess the potential impact of tariffs and evolving market conditions. Nintendo will update timing at a later date. The launch date of June 5, 2025 is unchanged,” the company told IGN at the time.

Trump’s tariffs had previously targeted imports from China, leading to retaliatory measures that raised taxes on U.S. goods. In response, Nintendo shifted some Switch 2 units to imports from Vietnam to maintain the console’s $449.99 price. The company also adjusted prices for certain accessories like the Switch 2 Pro Controller, Joy-Con 2 Pair, and Joy-Con 2 Charging Grip, while keeping the main console price steady.

The tariffs, collected by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, generated around $166 billion in duties and deposits. The agency said it would have a system ready within 45 days to issue refunds. Nintendo’s lawsuit now seeks to recover the costs it paid under the invalidated tariffs.

Nintendo told IGN about the lawsuit: “We can confirm that we filed a request. We have nothing else to share on this topic.”

This case highlights the ongoing tension between trade policy and consumer products. Nintendo clearly wants to hold the government accountable for the financial impact the tariffs caused on its U.S. operations.

What do you think about Nintendo challenging the U.S. government over tariffs? Share your thoughts in the comments.