So if they win, the US taxpayer will pay for it?
The money that has passed various deadlines may be more difficult to return, however it is still money that is due to Nintendo. That may be more difficult to obtain, but it isn't the government's money in the first place.
US tax payers aren't paying money to Nintendo - they're paying for the government's lawyers to try to argue against not paying back illegally collected tariffs.
https://realeconomy.rsmus.com/ieepa-tariffs-struck-down-what...
I don't see how the consumer won in any of this.
It's about if the United States is a country that respects the rule of law, or some failed 3rd world state, where the law is only respected if the dear leader likes it.
The first one is much better for economic development
But this will only further build up the low trust society when it feels like consumers only lose and never gains any of society's benefits.
Play stupid games, win stupid prizes
But I guess yes, first past the post is a stupid game.
Taxpayers already paid for it, companies raised their prices to compensate.
The Trump administration immediately invoked Section 122 for a 10% duty on nonexempt imports and announced expanded Section 232 and 301 investigations.
The taxpayer that paid the tariff was the consumer. The fact Nintendo actually wrote the check is largely accounting, this was passed on to the consumer.
The taxpayer that receives the refund is Nintendo, straight into their profits.
So the taxpayer paying and the taxpayer receiving are totally different. This is basically like regressive welfare where consumer paid a private but government imposed tax to corporations.
This scheme amounts to yet another free handout for corporations. They should be required to use this money to reimburse their customers, but that would obviously going to get very complicated.
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/03/06/cbp-tells-judge-it-...
> Under customs law, importers generally have about 314 days after goods enter the country before a tariff payment is finalized, a process known as “liquidation.”
> If companies fail to challenge the duty and request a refund after the duty is finalized — or liquidated — they must file a formal protest and, in some cases, challenge the decision in the New York-based trade court to recover the funds.
Well done America.