Toy industry in tariff turmoil

Displays at Toy Fair New York at the Javits Center in Manhattan. Almost 80% of toys sold in the US comes from China. — John Taggart/©2025 The New York Times Company

AT the recent Toy Fair New York, the largest toy industry trade show in the Western Hemisphere, exhibitors displayed rows of stuffed animals, action figures and puzzles, all vying for the attention of retailers.

But this year, the excitement over the next big toy was overshadowed by a different concern: Rising costs driven by global trade tensions.