Trump’s promised tariffs on China could hurt board game and TTRPG publishers
In the aftermath of the US elections the promised tariffs of newly elected President Donald Trump have sent a wave of panic through the tabletop industry. The proposed tariffs were a regular part of Trump’s campaign trail. These taxes on goods imported from other countries could include a universal increase of up to 20% on all foreign goods, with targeted increases of 60-100% on goods imported from China – a major manufacturing location for board game books, miniatures and other goods, such as dice. Although it is still an opportunity for the Supreme Court to prevent this policyIf implemented, they could make tabletop games prohibitively expensive for both consumers and game designers.
Late October, industrial trade group the Consumer Technology Association released a report saying that “the tariffs, if implemented, would only harm American consumers, households, workers, businesses, organizations and governments at all levels.” Tariffs have long been part of the president-elect’s economic plan to return manufacturing work to the United States, increase tax revenues and punish countries that “move away from the U.S. dollar.” Nevertheless, CTA states that “the truth is that the proposed tariffs will never achieve these goals and will lead to unintended consequences.”
An earlier study by the CTA showed that “moving all technological production to the US is not feasible” because the infrastructure simply does not exist here. This also applies to board games. While manufacturers, like the company, are behind it Steve Madden shoesefforts to shift production to countries like Cambodia, Vietnam, Mexico and Brazil after the elections, the tabletop industry may not have the capital to do so. Even with these adjustments, the study says, “U.S. consumers will still have to pay more to purchase (…) products (in categories with tariffs).”
CTA’s report claims the potential for 40% higher prices for video game consoles and other gaming hardware. The impact on the tabletop industry, which is significantly smaller and operates on much smaller margins, is likely a more existential threat.
In the wake of the election, prominent tabletop makers have commented on the potentially devastating impact tariffs would have on their livelihoods. Meredith Placko, CEO of Steve Jackson Games, has posted a blog detailing the preventive steps she and the company have had to take action to survive these potential trade wars.
“I spoke extensively with my factory representatives to find out how much of an item I should order now to offset any higher costs later. Additionally, we are looking at where we can move production outside of China (hard mode, not many places outside of China or Europe produce board game components at the scale our industry uses).
I have spoken with my transportation representatives about the rising freight costs we expect to see as rates increase. We are already paying extreme freight prices, which will only increase as demand increases.”
British board game developer Judson Cowan, who raised nearly $700,000 for his game Deep regretposted about the potentially “financially devastating” rates on his Kickstarter page. If rates were set based on the game’s planned February 2025 run, Cowan says he would be charged approximately $100,000 to deliver the game. Deep regret to lenders in the United States. “It will not affect the game’s reception,” Cowan wrote, “but it could potentially affect my ability to sell games in the US in the future. And possibly my ability to keep making games at all.
While the smoke from the elections itself is still clearing, the new Trump administration will not take office until January 20, 2025. Until then, she won’t have a clear picture of how or if these proposed tariffs will affect the industry. .