Nintendo is suing the US government over Trump's tariffs

Source: Engadget

Background

Nintendo of America is suing the U.S. government—including the Department of Treasury, Department of Homeland Security, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection—over its tariff policy, according to Aftermath reports. The video‑game giant raised prices on the Nintendo Switch in August 2025 in response to “market conditions,” but the price of the newer Switch 2 console remains unchanged.

Lawsuit Details

• Court: The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. Court of International Trade.
• Legal Basis: It cites a February Supreme Court ruling that affirmed a lower‑court opinion declaring the Trump administration’s global tariffs illegal.
• Claims: Nintendo alleges it has been “substantially harmed by the unlawful execution and imposition” of “unauthorized Executive Orders” and the fees it has already paid to import products.
• Relief Sought: The company is seeking a “prompt refund, with interest” of the tariffs it has paid.

“We can confirm we filed a request,” Nintendo of America said in a statement. “We have nothing else to share on this topic.”

Legal Context

• Tariff Authority: While taxes and trade policies are generally set by Congress, President Donald Trump implemented a series of global tariffs during his first year in office using executive orders and the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which grants the President expanded trade‑control powers during a global emergency.
• Supreme Court Ruling: The Supreme Court upheld opinions from the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia and the U.S. Court of International Trade, removing the Trump administration’s ability to collect tariffs under IEEPA. However, the Court did not specify how illegally collected tariffs should be returned to affected companies.

Implications

Nintendo’s lawsuit follows a broader trend of companies pursuing legal action to obtain refunds for tariffs deemed unlawful. The outcome could set a precedent for how similar disputes are resolved.

This article originally appeared on Engadget.
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