Nintendo is poised to capitalize on President Donald Trump's 90-day "pause" on high tariffs for many countries, including Vietnam, where the company manufactures some of its hardware. According to customs data reported by Bloomberg, Nintendo has already been stockpiling Switch 2 units from Vietnam this year ahead of the console's June 5th launch date.

Before the pause, the Trump administration had placed a 46 percent tariff on Vietnam, which caused Nintendo to delay its planned April 9th date for Switch 2 preorders in the US. However, with the current 10 percent tariff in place for countries that haven't retaliated against Trump's tariffs, Nintendo may be able to ship more consoles to the US without incurring significant additional costs.

Nintendo has already confirmed that it has shipped "some" Switch 2 inventory to the US, which could help meet the expected high demand for the console. Bloomberg's report suggests that one of the Nintendo Switch 2's primary assemblers in Vietnam, Hosiden Corp., has significantly ramped up its shipments to the US in recent months. In February, Hosiden Corp. shipped more devices to the US from Vietnam than in the previous six months combined, according to customs data.

The data from NBD, a market research firm, shows that Vietnam exported 383,000 game console units to the US in January and more than 725,000 game console units to the US in February. This surge in shipments suggests that Nintendo is taking advantage of the temporary tariff reprieve to build up its inventory in the US.

It remains unclear when preorders in the US (and Canada) might open or if the Switch 2 will have a higher price to account for tariffs. However, with the lower tariff in place for now, it seems likely that Nintendo will try to bring as many Switch 2 consoles to the US as possible before higher tariffs potentially come into effect down the line.

The impact of Trump's tariff pause on Nintendo's Switch 2 launch is significant, as it could affect the company's ability to meet demand and maintain its competitive edge in the gaming market. The move also highlights the ongoing complexities of global trade policies and their effects on the technology industry.

As the gaming industry continues to evolve, manufacturers like Nintendo must navigate the intricacies of international trade agreements and tariffs to ensure the timely and cost-effective delivery of their products. The temporary reprieve from tariffs may provide a welcome respite for Nintendo, but it also underscores the need for long-term solutions to the trade tensions affecting the industry.