Toy Association Releases Statement as Dec. 15 Tariff Deadline Looms; Delay Uncertain

December 10, 2019 | With devastating tariffs on toys scheduled to take effect this Sunday (December 15), the toy community is disappointed that it has yet to get confirmation from the administration that it is backing away from these ill-advised taxes. Reports indicate that the U.S. and China are now taking steps to delay the upcoming round of tariffs, but as of this writing, an announcement has not been made.

"The government needs to stop using real people, real companies, and American jobs – 700,000 of them – as pawns in the ongoing trade war with China," stated Steve Pasierb, President & CEO of The Toy Association. "Tariffs were initially intended to be a temporary tool for leverage in U.S.-China trade negotiations. In practice, they will amount to nothing more than a tax on American families and their children and cause irreparable harm to companies of all sizes, especially small businesses, as they are forced to make long-term decisions in an unpredictable business environment."

For nearly two years, toy companies have spent time and money preparing for, revising, and re-revising contingency plans for a tariff deadline that continues to shift, and The Toy Association and its members have spent countless hours and resources aggressively advocating against tariffs on Capitol Hill and to key members of the administration. The Toy Association is also an active member and leader of the Americans for Free Trade coalition, and maintains a public and media education campaign about the impacts of tariffs, including a digital resource at DontTaxToys.com.

"We will continue to advocate with the administration for solutions that can address the very real trade, intellectual property, and business issues our nation has with China while not placing the burden upon America’s small businesses, retailers and children.  Toys are a source of childhood joy – not a tool in a trade war," added Pasierb.