The year 2025 began with the Pokémon TCG market in a state of intense excitement. Spurred by new digital releases, demand for physical cards was reaching a fever pitch, creating a “brutal” environment for collectors wondering why Pokémon cards are so expensive nowadays. Then, a new challenge appeared: a series of sweeping tariffs from the second Trump administration that sent a shockwave through the niche world of Japanese Pokémon card collecting.
The rollout was chaotic. It began on April 2 with the declaration of a national emergency related to the trade deficit, followed by a universal 10% baseline tariff on April 5. After months of market anxiety, country-specific rates were implemented on August 7. Finally, on September 4, a formal US-Japan Agreement locked in a baseline 15% tariff on nearly all Japanese imports, made retroactive to August 7. This period of uncertainty was a tax in itself, but it ended by cementing a significant new cost for the hobby.
The $800 Free Pass is Revoked
While the 15% tariff was a blow, a more obscure policy change dealt the most devastating damage. For years, a rule known as the de minimis exemption allowed any package valued under $800 to enter the U.S. tax-free. This was the engine of the international hobby, making it easy for collectors to buy single cards or a booster box from Japan without customs fees.
That era ended on August 29, 2025, when the administration officially eliminated the de minimis exemption for all countries. Suddenly, every package, no matter how small, was subject to the 15% tariff plus new carrier processing fees of $5 to $30. A simple hobby became a ‘logistical minefield’. The impact was regressive, punishing small transactions most severely. A $20 card could now incur a $3 tariff and a $15 processing fee, nearly doubling its price and killing the viability of small-ticket international commerce.
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The most tangible impact was on sealed products. The journey of a Japanese booster box was suddenly saddled with new tolls, and the sticker shock was real. The table below breaks down how these new costs compounded to create a dramatic price increase far beyond the 15% tariff alone.
Table 1: The True Cost of a Japanese Booster Box (Pre- vs. Post-Tariff)
| Cost Component | Pre-August 29, 2025 (Example) | Post-August 29, 2025 (Example) | Notes |
| Booster Box Price | $85.00 | $85.00 | Based on average market price for a new set |
| International Shipping | $20.00 | $20.00 | Standard shipping from Japan (e.g., FedEx, DHL) |
| Declared Value | $105.00 | $105.00 | Item Price + Shipping |
| U.S. Import Tariff | $0.00 | $15.75 | 0% due to de minimis exemption vs. 15% of Declared Value |
| Carrier Processing Fee | $0.00 | $15.00 | A new flat fee charged by carriers for customs clearance |
| Total Landed Cost | $105.00 | $135.75 | The final price paid by the collector |
| Effective Price Increase | +29.3% |
A Hobby at a Crossroads
For the small U.S. businesses that form the backbone of the import community, the tariffs were an existential threat. Operating on slim margins, vendors had little choice but to pass the costs to consumers, slow down inventory orders, and, in some cases, prepare to shut down entirely. At an anime convention in New York, one vendor, Sai King, reported that 30% to 40% of his merchandise came from Japan and he was forced to hike prices.
Ultimately, the burden fell on the individual collector, who faced frustration, anxiety, and opportunistic price gouging from sellers blaming “tariffs” for unrelated markups, leaving many to wonder if anything can stop the Pokémon scalpers. Collectors began adopting new strategies: pivoting to tariff-free English cards, which reignited the debate over whether Japanese Pokémon cards are worth more than English ones; buying individual “singles” from domestic sellers to avoid import hassles; or simply paying the higher price to stay in their preferred side of the hobby.
The Hobby Ecosystem Under Siege
The tariffs’ impact radiated beyond just buying cards. The most significant shockwave came when grading giant PSA had to temporarily suspend all grading submissions from outside the U.S. This was because the tariffs were being assessed on the declared value of the cards themselves, not the grading service, creating an impossibly expensive situation for international customers and complicating the choice for collectors deciding between(https://card-codex.com/blog/psa-vs-bgs-vs-cgc-which-grading-company-is-right-for-your-tcg-cards/).
Collectors also saw prices rise on essential accessories like card sleeves and binders, many of which are manufactured overseas and subject to their own duties. The entire logistics chain was thrown into chaos, with massive shipping delays and, at one point, more than 30 nations temporarily suspending postal shipments to the U.S. because their systems couldn’t handle the new customs requirements.
A More Deliberate Hobby Emerges
The conclusion is clear: the era of cheap, frictionless importing of Japanese Pokémon cards is over. Higher prices and logistical hurdles are the new normal. For collectors, survival means budgeting for the “true cost,” consolidating shipments to minimize fees, and focusing more on the domestic market.
For vendors, a “great shakeout” is likely, with only the most efficient and transparent businesses surviving. While the tariffs have made the hobby more expensive, they may have an unintended consequence. By raising the stakes of every purchase, collectors are incentivized to be more discerning, focusing on acquiring pieces they truly value by better understanding what makes a Pokémon card valuable rather than engaging in speculative buying. The “Wild West” era may be over, replaced by a more deliberate, and perhaps more rewarding, approach to collecting.
