Although that headline is about as exciting as beginning a new trilogy of Star Wars films with talk about trade negotiations, and it's stuff that doesn't really affect us in Australia, we're talking about a pretty major thing. Even though it only affects the poor citizens of Naboo and the U.S. Anyway it's the big three: Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony holding hands and coming out against trade tariffs imposed on China.

Which have come about because master negotiator and best-est business man of all time turned president Donald Trump has decreed it be so. For, reasons. Anyway, when it comes to international trade we're not exactly experts. Or, what you would call "reasonably informed on the matter". We simply saw that the big three released a joint statement and were disappointed that it wasn't all about cross-platform play and the release of a new console called the Microtendony PlaySwitchBox.

Anyway, the entire statement can be viewed here (in PDF) and it outlines their reasons as to why a tariff placed on Chinese goods will be bad for videogames. With the headlines reading, "Our Companies and the Video Game Industry Drive U.S. Economic Growth and Technological Innovation", "Video Game Consoles Are Highly Specialized Products With Complex Supply Chains", and "Beyond Video Game Console Makers, U.S. Consumers, and U.S. Retailers, the Proposed Tariffs Would Asymmetrically Harm Small and Medium-Sized Software Developers Across America".

Essentially it calls for an exemption covering video game consoles, and opens with the statement:

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. 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.

Which makes sense as the statement goes on to say that in 2018, over 96% of video game consoles that were imported into the United States - were made in China.