Christmas is in the crosshairs as toy industry faces brunt of China tariffs
President Donald Trump’s tariffs are threatening to put a crimp in Christmas.
President Donald Trump’s tariffs are threatening to put a crimp in Christmas.
The United States imports as much as 75% of the toy products it sells from China, according to the U.S. Commerce Department, making it one of the industries most reliant on that country’s supply chain. Along with sports equipment and games, it is the fourth-largest import category from that nation.
As a result, toy industry officials are warning U.S. consumers to expect higher prices and fewer choices this year, including for the holidays, as a result of Trump’s tariffs.
“Christmas is in danger,” said Greg Ahearn, president and CEO of the Toy Association, the industry’s principal trade group. He said production in China continues to slow every time Trump ratchets up the tariffs on that country.
And it’s happening at an inopportune time. Traditionally, production starts to ramp up around this point of the year for goods to be ready for the fall and winter shopping season, he said.
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