Did Trump’s Tariffs Lead to an Increase in the Price of the Switch 2 by Nintendo?

Nintendo’s forthcoming Switch 2 might be pricier than anticipated — and the newly enacted tariffs by President Donald Trump could be a contributing factor.

On April 2, Trump unveiled extensive “reciprocal” tariffs on imports, causing ripples throughout the stock market. This announcement came after market hours on Wednesday, meaning the full effects weren’t experienced until the next day.

Major tech firms like Apple, Amazon, and Nvidia faced significant challenges. Apple’s stock plummeted 9.2 percent on Wednesday, with other prominent tech companies, including Microsoft, experiencing declines between 2 to 9 percent.

The tariffs impose a standard 10 percent on goods from all nations, but much steeper rates were placed on major trading partners. For instance, Taiwan faces a 32 percent tariff, while China is subjected to a 34 percent tariff — in addition to an already existing 20 percent duty. Since many tech companies produce their products in these nations, the increased expenses are likely to be passed down to customers.

This could clarify why analysts believe Nintendo has set the Switch 2’s price at $450, reacting to the company’s announcement. The price reveal, occurring just a day after Trump’s tariff announcement, has sparked speculation that the console’s pricing was modified in response to the new trade regulations.

Trump has advocated for the tariffs as a method to motivate companies to relocate manufacturing back to the U.S. In a recent address, he specifically mentioned Apple, asserting that the company intends to invest $500 billion domestically.

“Apple is going to spend $500 billion, they never spent money like that here,” Trump stated. “They’re going to establish their plants here.”

Nonetheless, reports indicate that Apple’s investment is primarily directed toward constructing server infrastructure in the U.S., rather than manufacturing consumer electronics like the iPhone. Establishing domestic production facilities will require years, and in the meantime, businesses will continue to depend on overseas production — incurring the associated costs.

For consumers, this probably translates to elevated prices on sought-after tech goods in the near future. As people become more budget-conscious, the wider tech industry — and the stock market overall — may continue to experience the repercussions.