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​

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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

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[Clint_L]

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!

Yeah, you're right. Still, I would like it, if only for cultural reasons - would make traveling a lot easier. Now if only we could adopt EU attitudes towards public transit...

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.)

The downside is that means higher prices, almost for sure. Significantly so, most likely.

It's hard to see any way out of the current situation that doesn't involve everyone in this hobby paying higher prices than they otherwise would have.

As much as I like to buy Canadian...I don't actually want to see a world where I feel like I shouldn't buy from certain companies because of what country they are in. We're all part of the greater nation of Nerdistan, and it feels bad to not support our brothers and sisters at cool American companies like Dwarven Forge and Reaper.

 

[Belen]

As much as I like to buy Canadian...I don't actually want to see a world where I feel like I shouldn't buy from certain companies because of what country they are in. We're all part of the greater nation of Nerdistan, and it feels bad to not support our brothers and sisters at cool American companies like Dwarven Forge and Reaper.

This.

I will continue to support my current companies such as EN Publishing, Free League, MCG, Goodman, TLG.

I may look into getting a Royal Mail site in the UK to batch shipping etc if the costs become prohibitive. Gaming keeps my somewhat sane even if I only read the material.

 

[GothmogIV]

Perhaps. But it’s not a solution. The US as a whole doesn’t have the printing capacity. They might be able to help out with a couple of small print runs, but they can’t provide an entire country’s infrastructure. But good for them!

It is good for them, and good for those of us who play their game and buy their products. But I can tell you, since my wife has books being printed in China, that the IP theft there is endemic. It's not a bug: it's a feature. The less US business China gets, the better.

 

[Bravesteel25]

I just saw this: Yes, a board game company is suing the president

Looks like a lot of board game publishers will be challenging the tariffs in court.

 

[Myrdin Potter]

There are more than a few lawsuits challenging the tariffs, and there were in the past before. They have not gained much traction yet and for the most part the courts have deferred to Congress which granted the President the powers being exercised. Congress does have the ability to end them if they wanted to.

 

[Bravesteel25]

There are more than a few lawsuits challenging the tariffs, and there were in the past before. They have not gained much traction yet and for the most part the courts have deferred to Congress which granted the President the powers being exercised. Congress does have the ability to end them if they wanted to.

Yes, that's my understanding as well. I just linked it because it was pertinent to the thread.

 

[Dire Bare]

It is good for them, and good for those of us who play their game and buy their products. But I can tell you, since my wife has books being printed in China, that the IP theft there is endemic. It's not a bug: it's a feature. The less US business China gets, the better.

There are definitely downsides to having your products produced in China. Piracy is one of them.

And, the US would certainly benefit if we could rebuild our manufacturing base domestically, to give companies a realistic option in producing products here.

For those companies who have already figured it out . . . yes, good for them! And for their customers!

But these tariffs aren't going to solve the problem for the rest of the US. They are just going to dramatically increase costs for US consumers, destroy companies and entire industries, and fail to meaningfully restore manufacturing to the US . . . and the rest gets too political, but GRRRRRRR . . .

 

[Clint_L]

And, the US would certainly benefit if we could rebuild our manufacturing base domestically, to give companies a realistic option in producing products here.

For those companies who have already figured it out . . . yes, good for them! And for their customers!

Their American customers. China isn't the only country that the US has launched a trade war against...

 

[Dire Bare]

Their American customers. China isn't the only country that the US has launched a trade war against...

In the current environment, yes.

In the long term for their customers, all of them. Every country (or region) could benefit from bringing back manufacturing outsourced to China and other countries across the ocean.

The trade war is incredibly short-sighted and stupid overall, the most extreme tariffs aimed at China are just getting the most attention at the moment. Alienating our allies, like Canada and Europe, is also going to have really crappy long-term consequences for the US.

 

[Clint_L]

In the current environment, yes.

In the long term for their customers, all of them. Every country (or region) could benefit from bringing back manufacturing outsourced to China and other countries across the ocean.

Agree to disagree. I don't see how moving production from China to a country that is openly trying to break mine will help Canadian TTRPG fans or producers in the short or long term. It just sounds like moving games production to a hostile nation that will tariff us on a whim.

Respectfully, I'm not sure that Americans can fully appreciate the levels of distrust and antipathy that this situation has engendered in other countries, especially their former allies. Insofar as possible, I am refusing to buy any product from any American source for the foreseeable future, and the latter sentiment is very widespread up here. At this point, it's not even about saving money; if necessary, I now pay more to buy from non-American sources.

Okay, America is 60% of the TTRPG market. Can those companies afford to write off the other 40%? When they put out a "proudly made in the USA" press release, that's the effect.