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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[GuyBoy]

It's hard to make any sense of his constant flip-flopping on tariffs and exemptions, which would be just an observation of incompetence if it didn't impact so many people's lives.
The old saying after 1929 that "when America sneezes, the world catches cold" remains the case sadly, for all of us in the RPG community and way beyond. That said, if I was an American patriot, I would take warning from the fact that the quote was originally Metternich's and applied to France; global power, especially soft power, is transient.

 

[UnknownDyson]

It's naked market manipulation. I can say this with certainty, the US economy entering another great depression will certainly effect the price of RPG books, if anyone at all is still interested in purchasing them at a time when they need to make a choice between food, shelter, and entertainment.

 

[Reynard]

@Morrus Thanks for the explanation.

 

[sevenbastard]

"Fantasy role play games books are expansion modules are designed to enhance fantasy game play, not for passive reading"

I can name a number of RPG books and modules that in no way enhance the game.

 

[Sacrosanct]

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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.

Clearly they never met any gamers, because of my collection, most were passive reading* and and many were never even played!

* I spend hours, nearly every day, just reading rpg stuff in the 80s. Much more time than actually playing them.

 

[Daniel D Fox]

When I was with Andrews McMeel Universal from 2019 to 2023, our supply chain manager classified all our role-playing game books by the same HS codes as other books. However, the ZWEIHANDER Starter Kit, which includes chits, cards, dice, a box, and the like, was treated with the same harmonized code as a board game, which was subject to a different tariff schema.

My current suppliers for ZWEIHANDER Reforged Edition tell me that the books are subject to the original tariff of 10%, treated the same as the HS codes for books. However, everything else I am producing—dice, cards, and the like—is subject to the reciprocal tariffs.

My plan is to absorb the tariff cost myself and not pass it onto backers. However, this puts me in a bind for the future, and I have no choice but to raise prices as these products hit retail shelves.

 

[Bravesteel25]

When I was with Andrews McMeel Universal from 2019 to 2023, our supply chain manager classified all our role-playing game books by the same HS codes as other books. However, the ZWEIHANDER Starter Kit, which includes chits, cards, dice, a box, and the like, was treated with the same harmonized code as a board game, which was subject to a different tariff schema.

My current suppliers for ZWEIHANDER Reforged Edition tell me that the books are subject to the original tariff of 10%, treated the same as the HS codes for books. However, everything else I am producing—dice, cards, and the like—is subject to the reciprocal tariffs.

My plan is to absorb the tariff cost myself and not pass it onto backers. However, this puts me in a bind for the future, and I have no choice but to raise prices as these products hit retail shelves.

I feel like this is the most accurate take. Maybe I'm being hopeful, but everything Daniel is saying here makes sense to me in terms of the classification.

On a separate note, hats off to you for choosing to absorb the cost for your affected products. I was a huge fan of the Old World (before Games Workshop destroyed it) and used to work for Games Workshop for a hot minute, so I may pick up a few Zweihander products when I have the discretionary funds.

 

[Dire Bare]

The tariff situation in the US is dire . . . even if some of the tariffs don't affect RPG books in the same way they affect board games and boxed sets. Prices are going up, it's just a matter of how much and how soon.

The uncertainty of tariffs being levied, then paused, then reinstated . . . the uncertainty is also a major problem for businesses in all industry.

And of course, as costs rise for consumers on all sorts of goods, we're all going to have less to spend on RPG books and other games.

 

[MGibster]

It's hard to make any sense of his constant flip-flopping on tariffs and exemptions, which would be just an observation of incompetence if it didn't impact so many people's lives.

This is what makes it especially difficult to plan. We don't really know what's going to happen next week let alone six months from now.

Clearly they never met any gamers, because of my collection, most were passive reading* and and many were never even played!

When I read the OP I immediately thought of all those books published in the 1990s I'm convinced were designed to be read rather than played.