Nintendo of America has filed a lawsuit against the US Government, seeking compensation for tariffs that have affected the company since 2025.
The legal action, reported by Aftermath, cites the executive orders issued by President Trump in 2025 that imposed tariffs on imported goods. Nintendo’s complaint names the US Departments of the Treasury, Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection, and the Department of Commerce, along with several government officials, as defendants. The suit claims that the tariffs led to the collection of “more than $200 billion in tariffs” through what Nintendo calls “unlawful trade measures.”
Recent Supreme Court rulings struck down several of these executive-order tariffs, deeming them unconstitutional. Nintendo’s lawsuit notes that while the court decision did not order refunds, the company is requesting “the prompt refund, with interest, of any IEEPA duties paid.”
The tariffs had a direct impact on Nintendo’s operations, affecting the launch of the Switch 2 and its associated products. Price adjustments and production changes created confusion and criticism around the release. Nintendo’s lawsuit focuses on recovering the duties and tariffs paid, rather than seeking punitive damages.
Other major companies affected by the 2025 tariffs may also pursue legal action to reclaim lost capital, although consumers impacted indirectly by the tariffs may not see similar benefits.
Nintendo is known for its litigious history, from disputes with game developers to the shutdown of fan projects, but this lawsuit is unlikely to draw fan criticism, as it targets government policy rather than individuals or smaller companies.
Following the Supreme Court decision, President Trump proposed new global tariffs of 15 per cent under a different legal framework, which has faced further legal challenges. While a reduction in consumer hardware prices remains uncertain, the removal of previous tariffs may provide some relief for companies like Nintendo and other affected businesses.
