Nintendo has announced that they will not be opening pre-orders for the highly anticipated Switch 2 in the United States next week. This decision comes in response to the introduction of high tariffs on exports from Japan. Despite initially planning to start pre-orders in the US in a few days, the company has now decided to delay this to assess the impact of the tariffs and changing market conditions. The launch of the console is still set for June 5 as originally planned.
The tariffs, which are taxes charged on imported goods, have hit Japan with a 24% tariff. This means that Nintendo may have to absorb the extra cost or pass it on to consumers. President Trump believes these tariffs will benefit the US economy and protect jobs, while Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has called it a “national crisis” and vowed to respond effectively.
Fans may worry that the prices of Nintendo products in the US could change due to the tariffs. The cost of games for the Switch 2, like Mario Kart World, has already raised concerns. Despite the uncertainty, Nintendo has not confirmed whether they factored potential tariffs into their pricing. The unexpected 24% tariff imposed by Trump has created uncertainty in the gaming industry.
This situation highlights the impact of international trade decisions on businesses and consumers around the world.
Vocabulary List:
- Tariffs /ˈtær.ɪfs/ (noun): Taxes charged on imported goods.
- Anticipated /ænˈtɪs.ɪ.peɪ.tɪd/ (adjective): Expected or predicted often with excitement.
- Absorb /əbˈzɔːrb/ (verb): To take in or soak up often used in a financial context.
- Impact /ˈɪm.pækt/ (noun): The strong effect or influence that something has.
- Concern /kənˈsɜːrn/ (noun): A feeling of worry or anxiety about something.
- Uncertainty /ʌnˈsɜːr.tən.ti/ (noun): The state of being unsure or having doubts.
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