Anbernic, a well-known manufacturer of retro handheld gaming devices, has recently announced that it will be halting shipments of its products from China to the United States due to the impact of tariffs. The company, known for its range of consoles that focus on emulation, has been featured in Engadget’s prestigious list of «Best gaming handhelds.» Despite this decision, Anbernic will continue to sell the devices that have already been shipped to the US until supplies run out.
In a statement released by Anbernic, the company explained, «Due to recent changes in US tariff policies, we have made the difficult decision to suspend all orders shipping from China to the United States, effective immediately. We strongly advise customers to consider purchasing products from our US warehouse, as these items are not currently subject to import duties and can be bought with confidence.»
Anbernic has historically offered customers the option to select the warehouse from which their device is shipped, allowing them to avoid additional customs fees or potential stock shortages in their region. However, with this new policy in place, customers in the US will no longer have the option to order directly from China, potentially missing out on upcoming hardware releases from the company.
The decision to cease shipments to the US is a response to the unpredictable nature of tariff regulations. While President Donald Trump initially announced a temporary pause on most tariffs on April 9, subsequent changes increased the tariffs on imported goods from China. Although certain exemptions were made for specific electronics, the Trump administration later indicated that semiconductor tariffs would apply to electronics in the future.
These fluctuations in trade policies were further complicated by the elimination of the «de minimis exemption,» which previously allowed duty-free shipments to the US for packages valued under $800. This exemption was crucial for affordable alternatives to platforms like Amazon, such as Temu, as well as the budget-friendly products offered by Anbernic. Given the current uncertainty surrounding trade regulations, there is a possibility that Anbernic may resume shipments to the US in the future. However, for now, not all companies can absorb the additional costs of tariffs like Nintendo has been able to do.
This article was originally published on Engadget at [insert link here].
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