Do Tariffs Apply To RPG Books? Maybe, Maybe Not!

When the recent tariffs were announced by the US, panic was the first reaction from tabletop roleplaying game publishers.

This was soon followed by a wave of hope as people shared an official exemption list which included "printed books, brochures, leaflets and similar printed matter in single sheets, whether or not folded" and "printed books, brochures, leaflets and similar printed matter, other than in single sheets" (see codes 49011000 and 49019900). Seemingly, TTRPG rulebooks might escape the tariffs!

However, ICv2 is reporting that this may not be the case. According to a pair of rulings dating all the way back to 1989 and 1991, TTRPG rulebooks are instead classified as "arcade, table or parlor games… parts and accessories thereof". These rulings came from the US Custom and Border Protection agency, and were applied to Columbia Games and West End Games, respectively.

The first ruling was titled "Fantasy Role Play Expansion Modules".

In our opinion, heading 9504 provides the more specific description of the merchandise in issue. The modules enhance fantasy game play; they were not designed for passive reading.

- US Customs and Border Protection, November 1989​

​

The second ruling, titled "Fantasy role play games books are expansion modules are designed to enhance fantasy game play, not for passive reading" reads as follows.

As a result of the foregoing, the instant merchandise is classified under subheading 9504.90.9080, HTSUSA, as articles for arcade, table or parlor games, including pinball machines, bagatelle, billiards and special tables for casino games; automatic bowling alley equipment; parts and accessories thereof; other, other, other, other. The applicable rate of duty is 4.64 percent ad valorem.

- US Customs and Border Protection, November 1991​

These rulings are both 35 years old, so there is no guarantee that the same ruling would be made today. This ruling, from last year, classifies a Shadowrun supplement as a book, noting that "This ruling only takes into consideration the books when imported separately." But it does cast doubt on the status of TTRPG rulebooks. Are they books or are they games, according to the US customs agencies? If the latter, TTRPG books coming from China would suffer the same 145% tariff that boxed sets, accessories, and boardgames do. That means that a $30K print run of a few thousand books would incur an additional $43,500 bill when arriving at port in the US--considerably more than it costs to manufacture them in the first place.

Products coming from countries other than China are currently subject to a lower 10% tariff. However, with the speed at which the situation changes, it is impossible for companies to plan shipments to the US. Whatever the tariffs, what is necessary for trade is stability. Most organisations need a lead time measured in weeks--or sometimes months--in order to budget and plan for manufacturing and international shipments, and the tariffs are currently changing on a daily basis. And without even knowing for sure whether TTRPG rulebooks incur the tariff, we may have to wait until the first shipment hits port to find out!

The Shipping Tariff Lottery #shorts

The gamble we face when deciding whether to ship product to the US right now. #Gaming #ShippingChallenges #Tariffs #Kickstarter #GameDesign

www.youtube.com

 

[Morrus]

Dragonbane by Free League is a non-US alternative. They should set up a distribution hub in Canada and avoid going through the US.

That’s not a trivial—or cheap—thing to do, and I imagine few businesses are willing to make big decisions right now when things change so quickly.

 

[The Soloist]

That’s not a trivial—or cheap—thing to do, and I imagine few businesses are willing to make big decisions right now when things change so quickly.

One can voice wishes. Sometimes surprising things happen! Montreal has an excellent printing industry sector. The low Canadian dollar is advantageous against the Euro and the Pound. We also have an international port with established train and trucking routes into the US.

Green Ronin often prints in Montreal.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

One can voice wishes. Sometimes surprising things happen! Montreal has an excellent printing industry sector. The low Canadian dollar is advantageous against the Euro and the Pound. We also have an international port with established train and trucking routes into the US.

Green Ronin often prints in Montreal.

There are a lot of people in Europe who are now very keen on a much closer trading relationship with Canada.

 

[Morrus]

One can voice wishes. Sometimes surprising things happen! Montreal has an excellent printing industry sector. The low Canadian dollar is advantageous against the Euro and the Pound. We also have an international port with established train and trucking routes into the US.

Green Ronin often prints in Montreal.

A minute ago we were talking distribution hubs. Now we’re talking printing too? I don’t think most EU and UK companies are likely to move their printing from the EU to Canada, or how that would help, particularly. But it might make sense for some? Dunno!

 

[The Soloist]

There are a lot of people in Europe who are now very keen on a much closer trading relationship with Canada.

We have the forest and the paper is produced 100 Kms from Montreal. It's all very cost-effective. ;-)

 

[Morrus]

We have the forest and the paper is produced 100 Kms from Montreal. It's all very cost-effective. ;-)

Who's the printer? Are their prices cheaper than Standartu in the EU? And do they have the capacity to do boxed sets, accessories, etc? And, indeed, do they have the capacity to take on the demand? There's a reason--aside from the higher prices--that companies don't print in the US--the few print outfits there aren't nearly enough to handle the demand.

We won't go into whether the shipping is cost effective--it's an Atlantic crossing either way from the EU, so I guess it depends on which continent a company has a bigger customer base on, and what tariffs from Canada to the US do compared to those from the EU to the US (and who knows what they will be tomorrow or next week--seems a risky move to move your entire manufacturing infrastructure based on what is happens to be today).

Like I said, it's not an easy or trivial thing to do.

 

[dragoner]

There is a whole field involved with supply chains, generally the common wisdom says they take a while to grow, 20 years or so.

Supply chain engineering - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[talien]

Yes I am aware.

Right now analysts put the odds of a recession between 40% and 65%. That's the best data we have, and it's far from certain.

As others have pointed out, volatility is the problem. Businesses aren't going to hold their breath to see where the tariffs net out; uncertainty = "prepare for the worst immediately" and because their timelines are months to years in advance, they are making those pivots now.

Those actions will trigger a cascade that will have a negative downstream effect.

Don't wait for the economists to tell you. The recession is here, and best to act accordingly. I'm sorry.

 

[SlyFlourish]

Dragonbane by Free League is a non-US alternative. They should set up a distribution hub in Canada and avoid going through the US.

We actually tried to drop-ship books from our Canadian printer to our Canadian customers and it was more expensive than shipping books to our NA fulfillment company who then sent them back to Canada.

 

[SlyFlourish]

Who's the printer? Are their prices cheaper than Standartu in the EU? And do they have the capacity to do boxed sets, accessories, etc? And, indeed, do they have the capacity to take on the demand? There's a reason--aside from the higher prices--that companies don't print in the US--the few print outfits there aren't nearly enough to handle the demand.

We won't go into whether the shipping is cost effective--it's an Atlantic crossing either way from the EU, so I guess it depends on which continent a company has a bigger customer base on, and what tariffs from Canada to the US do compared to those from the EU to the US (and who knows what they will be tomorrow or next week--seems a risky move to move your entire manufacturing infrastructure based on what is happens to be today).

Like I said, it's not an easy or trivial thing to do.

They just do books but I've absolutely loved working with Friesens. They're family owned, 100 year old company who produces huge quantities of books. Very professional. Good prices.

I'm not sure its any sort of solution for EN World but I love them.