Trump Reportedly Flirting With A New Round Of Tariffs On Gaming Hardware
Kotaku · 2026-08-27
A potential future Trump administration is reportedly considering new tariffs that could significantly expand import duties to include tech products like laptops, gaming consoles, and servers. This move, reported by Politico, aims to leverage tariffs to pressure companies into investing in U.S. chip manufacturing for data centers. The consideration comes despite a controversial "reciprocal tariffs" regime being struck down by the Supreme Court earlier this year, which ruled that the president cannot unilaterally impose import taxes without Congressional legislation. That prior ruling led to large refunds for companies, including console makers Sony and Nintendo, who had previously passed higher costs to consumers. Analysts anticipate console makers like Nintendo and Sony may already raise prices next year due to an ongoing RAM shortage driven by AI companies, making the threat of new tariffs an additional concern.