1 week Ago
PORTLAND, Ore. — The owners of Southeast Portland boutique toy store Merci Milo are already feeling the effects of increased tariffs. Caroline Rodrigues said nearly 25% of their inventory comes from China, but they also rely on imports from Europe, Japan and Germany, among other countries.
She said six vendors have already canceled deliveries to instead ship direct-to-consumer to save money. "That means we will definitely not have a lot of the brands we love and cherish to carry in our store," Rodrigues lamented. RELATED: Trump hits back with a 125% tariff in escalating trade war with China Rodrigues says that finding U.
S.-made toys is nearly impossible, and most toymakers she knows still depend on overseas parts or labor. The Toy Association President and CEO Greg Ahearn doesn't see U.
S. toy production ramping up anytime soon. "I would say with confidence the manufacture of $5 toys would not be the first manufacturing and capital investment that people in the U.
S. would want to make," Ahearn said. "I see maybe phones, electronics and chips.
" Rogue Toys in Happy Valley, which focuses on vintage and secondhand toys, is considering a move to eliminate all new products from overseas to avoid the effects of the growing tariffs. Owner Mike Harsono said they currently have a container of Chinese-made plushies on their way to the U.S.
worth about $20,000, knowing Rogue Toys may have to pay an additional $25,000 due to tariff increases. "We're a very small business, so we don't want to pay that off to our customer..
. it's not like we can afford those taxes, right?" Harsono asked. President Donald Trump has said this is all good for the U.
S. economy if people remain patient, while U.S Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also said Wednesday the administration has received numerous responses from countries look to negotiate new trade deals.
Meanwhile, business owners remain divided. "We're looking at possibly closing in a year or two if this continues," said Rodrigues. "I don't see a future in retail or in this economy, unfortunately.
" Harsono said his store serves a niche market: "The collectors will still be there. There will still be a market. It may be a smaller market, but we'll still be there.
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