Will Prismatic Evolutions products get hit with tariffs? They very well might. Cards are printed proudly in the United States and some of the accessories like the coins in ETBs are made inside the United States. However a number of products may get hit with tariffs.
Some of The Pokemon Company’s products may very well skirt by tariffs because they’re “transformed” inside the United States. The main work is done inside the country and the transformation of inputs into finished products is meaningful. But a number of products are just straight out made in China.
Prismatic Evolutions seems to be pretty safe from tariffs so far. The products listed on PokemonCenter.com list the United States as the country of origin.
- Prismatic Evolutions Surprise Box is printed in the United States
- Prismatic Evolutions ETB is printed in the United States and the coin is made in the United States. What isn’t mentioned is the origin of the 65 card sleeves, 6 damage-counter dice, and the 2 plastic condition markers.
- Prismatic Evolutions booster bundles is printed in the United States
So that’s pretty good news! I don’t know about other Prismatic Evolutions products yet but we’re off to a good start.
But other products are in trouble when it comes to tariffs. Some examples of the origin of The Pokemon Company’s product mix are below…
- Eevee Prismatic double deck box is made in Taiwan and assembled in China
- Eevee Prismatic Card Sleeves are made in China
- Eevee Prismatic Playmat is made in Taiwan and printed in the United States
- Raboot Poké Plush is made in China
- Squirtle T-Shirt is made in India
- Eevee Pokémon Holiday Green Throw Pillow Case is made in China
- Snorlax Pokémon Holiday Stocking is made in China
- Lugia & Ho-Oh Pokémon Pixel Pins is made in China
- Mt. Moon Metal Sign is made in China
- Gold & Silver Legends: Lugia Plush is made in China
- Giratina (Altered Forme) Sitting Cuties Plush is made in China
- Ghetsis & Hydreigon Pokémon Trainers Figure is made in China
- Iris & Salamence Pokémon Trainers Figure is made in China
As you can see China is an important country for The Pokemon Company. A good number of their products, not trading cards, are manufactured inside the country. That’s bad news for them because as you’ll remember the Trump Administration has suggested 60% tariffs on products of Chinese origin.
And there will be no exceptions for toys and games. In fact toys and games is a juicy target because they don’t have the lobbying power of say Walmart. The industry is much smaller and there’s some fragmentation. Mattel and Hasbro are going to do their best to get exceptions but I highly doubt it’ll work.
The Trump Administration is under the mistaken belief that painful tariffs will magically make companies immediately open factories inside the United States and that the consumer deserves to feel pain to make it happen. In their world it’s fine that the impoverished will be disproportionally hurt. It’s fine that consumers across the United States pay a ridiculous amount more for basic things. It’s all fine.
Anyway the point is Prismatic Evolutions is most likely safe from the Trump Administrations tariff plans, but a good number of The Pokemon Company’s other products are in trouble. So if you were thinking about loading up on Prismatic Evolutions trading cards because of tariffs I think you’ll be okay. Other types of products are where you should worry.
It’s just how things are at the moment I guess. Everything is up in the air.