Nintendo blames taxes as it exits Brazil

Mario isn’t afraid to brave the dangers of ice worlds or Bowser’s castle, but tariffs have scared him away from Brazil.

The game publisher revealed today that it is ending operations in the South American nation (via UOL Brazil). Nintendo will no longer sell software or hardware products in Brazil. The company claims that the current taxes on importing and exporting goods to the country makes continued investment there nonviable. Brazil uses high tariffs to protect its manufacturing jobs as well as to encourage foreign companies to build plants (and create more jobs). Nintendo could do that and avoid many of the taxes it would have to pay now, but it’s not going to do that because of the cost.