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

us-customs-apis-pt1.jpg


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!

Screenshot 2025-04-14 at 2.10.01 PM.png

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!

 

log in or register to remove this ad

Yeah the tricky bit is “falling in love” with a new publisher. This hobby produces a lot of non-substitutable products, e.g.: if I love DCC, then I might have a difficult time replacing that game with another if it isn’t suitably similar. An American TTRPG that I’m invested in might be hard to replace. That’s the struggle, combined with limited eyeball time for new games in my adult life.

Truthfully as a Canadian gamer I need to invest more time in learning about the Canadian games and publishers. I’m not really aware of any, and that’s probably on me. I won’t fall in love with a Canadian game if I’m not putting in the work of looking for one!

Maybe this video with about 50 Canadian ttRPGs I did recently will help. I have another with 16 more that I'll put up soon.

 

log in or register to remove this ad

I disagree. See, that's you telling me with certainty you know the future when experts are saying they don't have that level of precision. Being cautious is one thing. Telling me I should replace expertise with your amateur, anonymous instincts isn't wise. Nor do I think you're "sorry" for attempting to tell others your truth is superior to expertise.
Absolutely welcome to disagree. You shouldn't replace my expertise with anything. My opinion is based on my experience in the business world--rude of you to imply I am an amateur, but I'm not going to engage in bona fides in this forum.

My sorrow here is because this is bad; for everyone. I'm upset on behalf of all of us. I really, really hope I'm wrong.
 

Absolutely welcome to disagree. You shouldn't replace my expertise with anything. My opinion is based on my experience in the business world--rude of you to imply I am an amateur, but I'm not going to engage in bona fides in this forum.

My sorrow here is because this is bad; for everyone. I'm upset on behalf of all of us. I really, really hope I'm wrong.
You're not a professional Economist are you? You listed your credentials as "writer, game designer, marketer, podcaster" I have lifelong business experience, run a business, and am an attorney. But I am not an expert on the level of professional Economist. In terms of being an Economist, I'm an amateur and I assume you are as well. I don't think it's rude for me to assume you're not one as well, but are you? If so, happy to apologize though odd you never mentioned it all these years.
 

You're not a professional Economist are you? You listed your credentials as "writer, game designer, marketer, podcaster" I have lifelong business experience, run a business, and am an attorney. But I am not an expert on the level of professional Economist. In terms of being an Economist, I'm an amateur and I assume you are as well. I don't think it's rude for me to assume you're not one as well, but are you? If so, happy to apologize though odd you never mentioned it all these years
I don’t know where this weird aggression is coming from, but dial it down, please.
 

I worked with Quebecor Media for many years. They printed high-quality 4-color process travel magazines for me. We did 200-page brochures. Starting at 10,000 copies. Softcover, glue bound, with mat or glossy UV.


The other player I worked with is Transcontinental.
 

Some of these companies are printing in China, even if selling their services here, the more expensive one I priced, actually had presses here.
 

Montreal is my home city (and actually was back there very recently and got to see the Habs win at the Centre Bell on a Saturday night so I am even more fond of it now). Quebecor is a well established and large printing company and I have had businesses use them for printing but not for books. They always did a good job but it was more newsprint level printings. I live in the USA today but it was nice to be home for a bit.

Shipping costs are silly, especially by post are artificially low from China. They have a "transitional" ranking (way outdated and they have fought to keep it from being changed) ranking in the international postal system. That gives them artificially low postal rates. Their government also heavily subsidizes export shipping. That is a reason why shipping what seems to be much shorter distances seems so much more expensive thanb shipping from China.

Under the current de minimis rules, if the product is not from China and under $800 it can be shipped tariff free. So it is the companies that are relying on China that have the biggestm potential hit now.
 


In a decade we might be in the EU, so...
Haha perhaps! But tbh I think that’s a long shot too. And even if Canada is in the EU, are they gonna ship across the pond just to print in Canada and ship back? Not impossible but I wouldn’t hold my breath!

If 2020-2025 taught us anything, it ought to be that global supply chains are hyper-integrated and extremely vulnerable. I wonder if the pendulum swung too far, and now we’re seeing a reaction? Perhaps we’ll see the return of domestic manufacturing in a lot of industries, not due to costs but strategy and supply-security. Weird to talk about TTRPG books like they’re strategically significant, but book publishing could possibly become so. (Might be wishful thinking on my part though.)
 


Remove ads

Remove ads

Top