Toy Association to Co-Host February Fly-In to Educate Congress on Industry’s Opposition to Tariffs

January 4, 2019 | The start of a new Congress commenced on January 3 with the official swearing-in ceremony for members and the election of Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) as Speaker of the House. The Toy Association’s federal government relations team spent the day on Capitol Hill welcoming members and their staff. This week, every senator and representative received a “Welcome to Congress” letter from The Toy Association highlighting the importance of the U.S. toy industry and expressing our strong opposition to tariffs on Chinese imports.

With the March 1 deadline looming for U.S. and China to establish a trade deal, The Toy Association will continue to aggressively oppose tariffs. During November and December, The Toy Association met with more than 30 offices in the Senate and U.S. House of Representatives to illustrate how tariffs on toys could steal the joy of children’s holidays and birthdays by negatively impacting consumers and U.S. businesses.

Special DC Fly-In on Tariffs

Looking ahead, the Association is working closely with the Tariffs Hurt the Heartland Coalition to host a special fly-in on February 6 and 7 in Washington, DC. The fly-in is an important opportunity for Toy Association members and companies from other industries including manufacturers, retailers, technology companies, and farmers to meet with members of Congress and Administration officials to share their personal stories of how additional tariffs will negatively impact their businesses and ultimately consumers.

“For members of Congress, the most impactful stories come from district companies and constituents. I strongly encourage our members to join the fight by attending the fly-in and telling their stories about the real world impact of tariffs,” said Ed Desmond, executive vice president of external affairs at The Toy Association. “There is strength in numbers – this fly-in will elevate the awareness on Capitol Hill of the harmful effects of tariffs to not just toys and children’s products, but consumer goods of all kinds.”

Online Privacy, Data Security & IP Infringement Issues

While fighting tariffs is a high priority, the Association expects online privacy, data security issues, and intellectual property infringement to garner greater attention in the new Congress. The Toy Association is committed to working closely with federal legislators on these issues by proactively meeting with newly-elected members of Congress and members on committees with jurisdiction over these issue areas to educate them on key industry priorities.

“We will continue to ensure that our industry’s voice is heard on Capitol Hill and continue to serve as a valuable resource for Congress to better understand our unique industry,” added Desmond.

To register for next month’s fly-in or for further details, contact Rebecca Mond, vice president of federal government affairs at The Toy Association.