We’re on the cusp of knowing if the Trump administration plans on following through with its proposed tariffs set to be imposed on May 2nd. As you are no doubt aware by now, we have no idea where we stand with certain manufacturers, particularly those located in China, where the bulk of hobby-related products are still made. What is clear is that many of these companies will not be able to ship their products to the US if the proposed 145% tariff is, in fact, imposed as many fear. Faced with rising inflation costs, the consumer will tolerate only so much before moving on and purchase other items. Supposedly, the Trump administration is in talks with China over the tariff issue, but even if some sort of lesser tariff is agreed upon its unlikely companies will still be able to import their products into our country and hope to turn a profit, or have their products available for the holidays. Part of the problem has to do with neither side wanting to back down first and be perceived as caving to the demands of the other party. This “Blink-manship”, as I like to call it, will end up hurting both countries, ensnaring innocents on both sides until a fair and adequate resolution can be reached. Some have even referred to the stand-off as the first shots in a Sino-Taiwanese War, which many believe will eventually occur some time in the not-too-distant future.

For now, we’ve grouped the affected companies and their products into our web site’s October 2025 Upcoming Release section. Should anything change we will, of course, update this section and attempt to provide the most accurate information possible to our clientele to keep you informed and up-to-date so you can plan your purchases. We recognize that this isn’t the best course of action given the level of uncertainty permeating the market but its all we can currently do given our own situation. In the meantime, we are asking that you refrain from asking us about the expected arrival dates of these products since we simply have no idea about their fate. And, as a cautionary move, we believe that many of the products we do have in stock may see their prices rise as demand remains strong and supplies begin to dwindle. Food for thought if you have your eye set on anything marked as being in stock.

Earlier this week, we heard from our principal distributor who stocks several key lines, among them the Hobby Master range of diecast military products. Hobby Master, as it turns out, is made in Bangladesh, which isn’t subjected to the same abnormally high tariffs the Trump administration plans to impose upon China in early May. Unfortunately, this doesn’t mean that Bangladesh has dodged a bullet — far from it. According to the latest tariff plans, Bangladesh will be subject to a 37% tariff, making any products we import from the country exceedingly expensive.

According to our distributor, both the April and May shipments of Hobby Master products are not subject to the tariffs. However, both the June and July shipments will have a 10% tariff tacked on to their existing prices, meaning we’ve had to adjust the retail prices for said items by approximately the same margin. But here’s where it gets dicey. Shipments that do not clear customs by July 8th will be subjected to the 37% tariff already discussed. As a result, our distributor plans to delay the arrival of both the August and September shipments until such time as the tariff picture comes into greater focus. In other words, if the current crisis is not averted and the tariffs do, in fact, get imposed it’s likely that we could see a pause in shipments from Hobby Master, perhaps indefinitely or at least until everything has been straightened out. Lines such as Corgi, Oxford, JC Wings, Panzerkampf and Dragon will almost certainly face the same dilemma since they are manufactured in the PRC, where the current proposed tariff has been pegged at 145%, making them far too expensive to even consider importing. Politics aside, this is clearly a recipe for disaster for a great many industries, not just ours.

Needless to say, we’re hoping that the current trade war is settled to everyone’s satisfaction in the coming weeks to prevent this scenario from occurring. If it should happen, there’s a good bet that product already in stock will go up in price too, since demand will likely remain strong and supply won’t be able to keep pace. As it stands right now, we have ample supplies of each line but cannot predict our stock situation towards the later part of the year should we experience a run on the brands. The same holds true for virtually every segment of the toy industry, so what you see available on store shelves may become scarce at a later date or see their prices jacked up well beyond the norm. You can bet that manufacturers, distributors and retailers are lobbying the Trump administration to re-consider its stance on tariffs, or at least roll them back to acceptable levels so that the holiday season isn’t a lost cause. Thus far its not clear if the proposed tariffs will have an adverse effect on new product announcements since product will still be manufactured for other regions around the world but perhaps in lesser quantities.

If the trade war does goes on for much longer, additional problems could creep into the overall equation that would almost certainly affect the retail sector. For instance, right about now is when most Asian manufacturers are beginning to produce toys and other related products for the upcoming holiday season. If these manufacturers are forced to wait and delay their manufacture, a situation could occur where our US ports are clogged with an abundance of late shipments, a scenario very reminiscent of what occurred during COVID. So even if the green light is issued to make and ship holiday-related products, it isn’t certain if they’ll make it in time to be of much value. Food for thought in today’s economic climate where events seem to be changing on an almost daily basis.