During the U.S.-China State Visit on 25 September 2026, President Trump and President Xi announced an agreement under the U.S.-China Board of Trade on more favourable tariff treatment for $30 billion of non-sensitive goods flowing in each direction. On the U.S. import side, the Board published a list of 77 HTSUS subheadings it is recommending for consideration, with toys alongside small appliances, holiday decorations, and children's car seats explicitly listed.
This is a recommendation, not a final tariff action. No rates have changed yet.
The Toy Association had urged the USTR to include toys as non-sensitive goods, and the numbers behind the ask are hard to argue with. Toys pose no national security concern and are highly price-sensitive purchases for American families. According to a 2024 economic impact study by John Dunham & Associates commissioned by the Toy Association, the U.S. toy industry generates $155.7 billion in annual economic impact and supports approximately 661,800 jobs — 96.7% of toy manufacturers, wholesalers, and distributors are small businesses. Toys also carry historical precedent for open trade: the 1994 Uruguay Round of GATT established a zero-for-zero tariff approach for the category.
China accounts for roughly 73–78% of U.S. toy imports based on 2024 trade data from USITC and the Observatory of Economic Complexity. That share reflects decades of built-up manufacturing infrastructure, particularly for labour-intensive work: painting, hand-finishing, and assembly, that hasn't moved easily to other markets despite years of supply chain diversification efforts.
The White House published the U.S. import product list on September 27, 2026, naming the specific HTSUS subheadings recommended for consideration. For toys, the primary code is HTSUS 9503.0000 covering tricycles, scooters, pedal cars, wheeled toys, doll carriages, dolls, scale models, puzzles, and parts and accessories; with one notable exclusion: toys enabled with radio frequency, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, or Bluetooth are explicitly carved out. Specific tariff rates and effective dates have not yet been published and will require a formal Federal Register notice before taking effect. Until then, current Section 301 rates remain in force.
Tariff relief changes the cost equation for toy imports from China, but it doesn't change what's required to bring those toys to market. All toys sold in the U.S. still need to meet applicable CPSC requirements, including ASTM F963, and carry a valid Children's Product Certificate (CPC) supported by testing from a CPSC-accepted laboratory. Learn more about Eurofins toy testing capabilities.
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