With steep import tariffs now taking effect, electronics sellers across the U.S. are scrambling to adapt—and consumers are feeling the squeeze. Trump-era tariffs targeting Chinese goods are once again making it difficult, and often outright unprofitable, for companies to sell tech products to American buyers. The latest brand caught in the crossfire is 8BitDo, well-regarded for its affordable, retro-inspired gaming gear. The company appears to be scaling back shipments to the U.S. to avoid the hefty duties.
Polygon recently reported that 8BitDo is blocking shipments from its China-based warehouse to U.S. addresses, leaving only domestically warehoused items available for purchase. Initially, customers were shown a clear warning about the limitation, but as of now, the message has been softened to a generic “not available for delivery to your location” note on affected products, such as certain mechanical keyboards. This subtle shift may be an attempt to reduce alarm while still complying with new logistical realities.
Unfortunately, there’s no clear pattern indicating which products are U.S.-available and which are restricted. The only reliable method is trial and error—adding an item to your cart and checking availability after entering a U.S. address. For those eyeing a specific device, Amazon or Best Buy may offer alternative stock, provided they maintain enough domestic inventory to skirt the import hurdles. It’s far from ideal, but it’s quickly becoming the norm.
This isn’t an isolated incident. Dozens of companies—from niche accessory brands like 8BitDo to mainstream manufacturers like Razer, Corsair, and Acer—have raised prices or scaled back offerings due to tariff pressures. Although a limited 10% tax still applies broadly, many China-origin goods are being hit with up to a 145% rate, more than doubling their landed cost. For American shoppers and retailers alike, that spells fewer options, higher prices, and more uncertainty in the tech space.
