Board game industry panics as Trump tariffs threaten to undo dramatic revival of past decades



US President Donald Trump has

announced comprehensive tariffs on foreign goods, which could bring tariffs on Chinese products to as much as 54% . The tariff hikes will reportedly deal a devastating blow to the board game industry, which has made a comeback after decades of struggle.

Tabletop panics as Trump tariffs hit board, card, role-playing games | Polygon
https://www.polygon.com/tabletop-games/552558/tabletop-panic-tariffs-on-china-layoffs-bankruptcy-gama



The Trump administration's tariff policy has been criticized by business analysts as ' worse than the worst-case scenario ,' but the impact will extend to the board game industry, reports game-related media outlet Polygon.

The Trump administration's tariffs could make board games much more expensive. About 20 organizations contacted by Polygon said they expected their business to worsen, and some even suggested they might go bankrupt without being able to bring games they've spent years developing to market.

The board game industry has made a V-shaped comeback in about 20 years thanks to the popularity of crowdfunding sites. However, the board game industry is made up of many independent creators, sole proprietors, small family-run businesses, and remote creative teams, so they will be hit hard by the Trump administration's tariff hikes, according to the Game Manufacturers Association (GAMA).



'The Trump Administration's latest move to impose a 54% tariff on Chinese products is dire news for the board game industry and the entire American economy. For an industry that relies heavily on overseas manufacturing and export to the United States, this policy will have devastating consequences,' GAMA said, pointing out the board game industry's reliance on manufacturing in China.

He added, 'Tariffs are essentially a tax on consumers, not a tax on the countries where the products are produced. Publishers will simply be forced to pass these costs on to their customers or face the possibility of business closures. Nearly one-third of all consumer goods in the United States are imported, consisting of clothing, food, appliances, cars, and entertainment items such as games. This means that all of these products will have to increase in price to compensate for the new Trump tariffs.' He pointed out that it is consumers who will lose out if tariffs are raised.

In addition, GAMA speculates that price hikes would drive up prices and inevitably reduce discretionary spending, further restricting consumer spending on board games. If this were to happen, it is highly likely that many of GAMA's member companies would go out of business or be forced to downsize or lay off employees.



Meredith Placko, CEO of board game maker

Steve Jackson Games , released a statement criticizing the Trump administration's tariff hikes, saying, 'Some people ask, 'Why don't you manufacture board games in the United States?' But the infrastructure to support full-scale board game manufacturing -- the specialized dice-making and die-cutting machines, the ability to manufacture custom plastic and wood parts, etc. -- is virtually nonexistent in the United States. We've received quotes and spoken to factories, and while they're willing, they just don't have the equipment, the labor, or the schedules to do it.'

Nearly a dozen other companies have expressed dismay over the Trump administration's tariff increases to Polygon, with an executive at a major board game publisher explaining that the uncertainty brought on by the Trump administration has been affecting revenue since at least January.

'It's bad news from every angle, but it's especially bad news for card games and tabletop RPGs made in China,' said one industry source, who spoke on condition of anonymity. 'It seems like the only options are to either implement significant price hikes in response to the new tariffs or move to a direct sales model that cuts out hobby retailers.'



However, hobby retailers are responsible for supplying the latest board games to the approximately 5,000 retailers that are members of GAMA, and their loss could mean fewer titles on store shelves, putting further strain on the board game industry.

GAMA noted that action needs to be taken before the Trump administration's tariff increases go into effect and before many board game retailers go out of business completely. 'GAMA will continue to oppose this policy and urge Congress to show common sense and help us not devastate the American economy with a needless and misguided trade war. We encourage all of our members across the country to contact their Representatives and Senators and intervene to urge them to repeal this harmful policy. Contact information for Representatives and Senators can be found at house.gov and senate.gov . Please write or call to express your concerns and demand action to protect our industry and the entire economy.'

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