- Nintendo has demanded a refund and interest on the fees it paid
- It’s unclear if or when it will be able to get a refund…
- … although it’s unlikely you’ll see any sort of refund for technology you’ve purchased
After the US Supreme Court struck down the Trump administration’s “reciprocal tariffs” imposed on the so-called “Liberation Day”, companies have already started suing the government to get back what they paid. That includes Nintendo, which via its lawyers is demanding its share of the “more than $200 billion in tariffs on imports from nearly every country” that the US levied (via Aftermath).
Nintendo isn’t just asking for a full refund either; it also requires interest.
This makes it one of over 2,000 similar lawsuits, according to one law firm — a number that might explain the Customs and Border Protection agency’s request for a 45-day period to set up a refund system, with a judge giving it a breathing space in response (via The Hill).
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It doesn’t want to take too long, though, as interest accrues every day, and estimates suggest that interest adds about $650 million to the amount the US government owes each month.
Unfortunately, when (even) duty refunds are issued to businesses, it is unclear if those refunds will be passed on to us consumers in any way, although we doubt it. It will be difficult to judge exactly when and who the tariffs affected – as some of the goods sold in the period would have already been in the country – and companies could also simply argue that they did not leave increased costs to consumers.
That’s not to say it won’t happen, but beware of potential scams that take advantage of the confusion. If you get an email or call about how Nintendo or another company owes you a refund for the fees you’ve paid, be sure to triple check that it’s legitimate before clicking on any link or sharing any details.
Lower prices on the way? No
Never say never, but higher prices will almost certainly remain a trend in 2026.
While Trump’s original tariffs have been phased out, he has already brought back 15% global tariffs and we are still seeing the lingering effects of the RAM crisis induced by the AI addiction to memory chips.
On top of that, the recent war in Iran has caused oil prices to rise – at the time of writing we have crossed $100 per barrel. barrel. Oil is essential for energy production, transportation and even some manufacturing processes, so the price has a big impact on the cost of goods. If high prices continue — or oil costs rise higher — you can expect the technology to see some cost increases as well.
Hopefully we’ll see tech prices come down at some point, but don’t expect it to happen anytime soon. If you’re feeling the pinch, our TechRadar advice is to always try to squeeze as much out of your existing gadgets as possible – put off upgrading your phone for a few months to a year to maximize value – and if you need, or just want, to upgrade your gadgets, try shopping during a sale like Black Friday or one of Amazon’s many Prime Day variants.
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