U.S. President Donald Trump’s extensive 145% tariffs on Chinese imports are causing turmoil in the tabletop industry. However, one sector appears to be largely unaffected: role-playing game books. These publications outline the rules and settings for various tabletop games, such as the Dungeons & Dragons rulebook. The important stipulation is that to qualify for a tariff exemption, the book must be imported and sold independently from essential gaming items like dice, maps, and miniatures.
There has been noticeable confusion regarding the classification of these books; a ruling from Customs and Border Protection in 2024 clarified that the 6th edition rulebook for Shadowrun is categorized under 4901.99.0070, which applies to printed, hardbound books. This ruling contradicts earlier classifications from 1989 and 1991, as reported by ICv2, which deemed them as parts and accessories of tabletop games rather than for “passive reading,” essentially questioning their status as books.
The ruling from August 9 specifies that it “applies only to the specific factual situation and merchandise description identified in the ruling request.” Nevertheless, it provides insight into how the agency is approaching the classification of these types of goods.
Despite the potential for exemption, tabletop companies are facing distress due to the uncertainty surrounding the situation. In addition to the tariffs, the rapid fluctuations in these levies create significant chaos. Another area of concern is how these tariffs could affect the materials needed for actually producing these books.
Update (April 24): This article has been amended to explain the rationale behind the exemption of books from these new tariffs.
