Nintendo moving some Switch production out of China

The manufacturer is looking to take parts of its Switch production and move it to Vietnam instead.

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It looks like Nintendo has plans to make a few changes to the way it approaches production, for at least some of its Switch components.

According to Reuters, Nintendo is looking to shift at least part of its Switch console production away from China and into Vietnam. The news was confirmed by way of a spokesperson for Nintendo, who noted that this was indeed true. Currently, Nintendo outsources nearly all of its console production to contracted manufacturers in China, and the shift is planned for this summer.

However, the change wasn't projected to happen because of the proposed tariffs by the Trump administration that would affect Nintendo consoles. Nintendo insists that instead, the change was intended to "diversify risks."

Previously, Nintendo co-signed a joint letter opposing Trump's proposed 25 percent tariffs on consoles manufactured in China, along with companies like Microsoft, Apple, and Sony.

“While we appreciate the Administration’s efforts to protect U.S. intellectual property and preserve U.S. high-tech leadership, the disproportionate harm caused by these tariffs to U.S. consumers and businesses will undermine — not advance — these goals,” reads the statement, which is dated June 17. “Accordingly, we respectfully request that the Administration remove HTSUS subheading 9504.50.00, covering video game consoles, from the final list of tariffs, and thus refrain from applying tariffs on these products.”

Nintendo has yet to issue further commentary on the situation or a concrete date for when it's projected to shift production to Vietnam other than "summer." 

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Fueled by horror, rainbow-sugar-pixel-rushes, and video games, Brittany is a Senior Editor at Shacknews who thrives on surrealism and ultraviolence. Follow her on Twitter @MolotovCupcake and check out her portfolio for more. Like a fabulous shooter once said, get psyched!

From The Chatty
  • reply
    July 9, 2019 12:30 PM

    Brittany Vincent posted a new article, Nintendo moving some Switch production out of China

    • reply
      July 9, 2019 12:35 PM

      we're looking to move a bunch of our production out of china

    • reply
      July 9, 2019 2:36 PM

      TBH this is probably a good thing for globalization as a whole, albeit not so great if China gets pushed too far.

      • reply
        July 9, 2019 2:39 PM

        I'm more worried about the Western world giving them trillions of dollars over the next decades to build their military. I think now is the time to (slowly) dial back trade with them.

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          July 9, 2019 2:40 PM

          They've already got the money, the question becomes what do they do with it? They've also got the surplus male population, so that doesn't help anything.

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      July 9, 2019 2:41 PM

      what cause them to ...... Switch?


      Sorry not sorry

      • reply
        July 9, 2019 4:11 PM

        You probably already know, but to fill sales volume in the good old US of A without incurring tariff penalties.

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